In this drear park, the doe are dying

TRIPUNITHURA: The spotted

deer

with wobbly hind legs tried to stand up but collapsed into the slush. After a while, it tried to get up again, this time managing an awkward position, tilting its head backwards as if to balance the anaemic frame. It struggled to move to a drier place, repeating the wobbly walk and collapse.


A little ahead, over 100 of them huddled under the shades of trees for respite from the lashing rains.

A spotted deer in the congested Deer Park at Hill Palace wobbles around as its hind legs have become weak due to a disease yet to be identified by authorities

At the Tripunithura Hill Palace deer park, death seem to be lurking around in every corner. The gentle creatures are dying a painful death almost every other day, even as authorities watch helplessly.

The death count so far is 11, and authorities admit they do not know the reason for these sudden deaths. To house them in the enclosure was a disaster, a fact they won't acknowledge.

At the Tripunithura Hill Palace deer park, death seem to be lurking around in every corner


The park has 230 spotted deer, including stags, doe and fawns and around 40

sambar deer

. The population density is unsustainable since the park is only 2.5 acres, a barren ground with not even a blade of grass. The place resembles a cattle market than a deer park.

At the centre of the park, there is a ramshackle shed where bundles of grass are stacked. Around 40 workers, including women, have the dual responsibility of tending the park and the sprawling museum premises. A major issue is maintaining the hygiene.The deer park was established in 1992, an attraction for visitors coming to the museum. In initial months, there were just around 10 deer and they had enough space to roam around. But their numbers kept growing and by 2018 it touched 270.

"The females can conceive within two weeks to four months. It is important that they are sterilized or shifted to other parks,'' said a senior forest official with Periyar Tiger Reserve.

The animals showed symptoms of sickness with the onset of monsoon. "We still do not know the exact reason and samples have been send to the animal husbandry department," a museum official said.

"We are still in the dark, but unless three fourth of them are shifted from here we will see more deaths,'' he said. The Centre for Heritage, which manages the museum and the park incurs Rs 30 lakh annually for the upkeep of deer alone.

"The funds should have ideally used to upgrade the

infrastructure

of the museum and the deer need to be shifted from the park if their survival is to be ensured,'' an official said.

Dr Venu V, principal secretary, cultural affairs (archaelogy, archives, museums), said he would look into the issue and find a solution in the coming days.


Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, Location Guesser and Mini Crossword. Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes, messages, and quotes.