Sambar enters Amritsar; dies during release after ‘shoddy’ rescue op
AMRITSAR: Blame it on the illequipped state forest department or on the shortage of staff, but a Sambar deer (male) died in the Amritsar forest department’s custody on Wednesday.
Forest officials were informed on Wednesday morning of the sighting of the animal near Ram Bagh, also known as Company Bagh. When officials reached the spot, the deer was trying to enter the Maharaja Ranjit Singh panorama in the Company Bagh’s premises.
When officials restricted its entry to the panorama, it ran away from the spot and got entangled in iron grills opposite the building. The confused and distraught animal could not get out and cut itself on legs, neck and abdomen in its struggle to get out.
Ill-equipped forest department officials only watched for around an hour before the animal could be finally rescued. Locals claimed that officials had no net to catch the animal and used sticks and ropes, which were ineffective.
District forest officer Surjit Singh, said, “We got information about 7.30am about the deer. Our team reached the spot to rescue the animal. As it was a male deer, it was difficult to handle it. Male deer has horns, while female deer does not have horns. When the deer was caught, it was already injured and bleeding .”
He added, “After our team gave first-aid to the animal, I instructed immediate release into the forest, as it is susceptible to cardiac arrest, when touched by humans. When it was being released in the forest, it died because of a cardiac arrest.”
Officials had no net to catch the animal and used sticks and ropes, which were ineffective. The animal could have been saved.
A LOCAL RESIDENT
I instructed immediate release of the animal back into the forest. While being released, it died of a cardiac arrest.
SURJIT SINGH, district forest officer