Highlights
- Carcasses of 25 blackbucks were discovered near an illegal maize farm in Telangana's Mahabubnagar
- The authorities, worried that more blackbucks may accidentally consume the pesticide pellets, will destroy the crop
The blackbucks reportedly ingested pesticide pellets on an illegal farm. HYDERABAD: The discovery of the carcasses of 25 blackbucks near an illegal maize farm in Telangana's Mahabubnagar has led to suspicions they may have ingested toxic pesticide pellets while grazing.
"The area has very good grasslands which serve as the ideal blackbuck habitat. The maize crop was being grown illegally on government land," divisional forest officer Chukka Ganga Reddy said. The blackbuck was the state animal of united Andhra Pradesh, but was replaced by the chital in Telangana following the bifurcation.
Thought the exact cause of death is yet unknown, the authorities, worried that more blackbucks may get drawn to the maize crop and accidentally consume the pesticide pellets, have decided to destroy the crop. The stomach content retrieved from the carcasses has been sent for analysis to determine the actual cause of death.
"The area has very good grasslands which serve as the ideal blackbuck habitat. The maize crop was being grown illegally on government land," divisional forest officer Chukka Ganga Reddy said. The blackbuck was the state animal of united Andhra Pradesh, but was replaced by the chital in Telangana following the bifurcation.
HC seeks reply over blackbuck deaths at heritage site
The Allahabad high court has pulled up the Agra district administration over the large number of deaths of endangered blackbucks in the premises of Akbar’s tomb, a preserved heritage site of the city.
4 arrested for killing blackbuck
Forest personnel arrested four persons, including a Plus III student, on Friday for allegedly killing a blackbuck, an endangered species, near Sandhamula village under Khallikote range.
Thought the exact cause of death is yet unknown, the authorities, worried that more blackbucks may get drawn to the maize crop and accidentally consume the pesticide pellets, have decided to destroy the crop. The stomach content retrieved from the carcasses has been sent for analysis to determine the actual cause of death.