Sigh of relief for wildlife lovers, missing deer return BWS

Forest officials of Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary in Puri have reported that around 4000 deer that were missing since the devastating cyclone Fani hit Odisha on May 3 have started returning to the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary (BKS).

Bhubaneswar: Nearly 4,000 deer that remained untraceable after the devastating Cyclone Fani hit Odisha on May 3, have started returning to the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary in Puri, informed the forest officials.

Sanjay Singh, Secretary, Information and Public Relations Department, Odisha on Wednesday said that forest department officials have reported that the missing deer have begun returning to the sanctuary situated in district Puri where the cyclone had its maximum impact.

"Balukhand Sanctuary in Puri which was on the route of the cyclone Fani was badly damaged. It had a large presence of deer. Fortunately, we were able to locate the deer that had gone to different areas. The deer are gradually returning. All their habitat has been damaged and the government will take special measures to rebuild that habitat which was there for the wildlife," Singh said.

The Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary spread over an area of 71 square kilometers is home to around 4000 spotted deer along with wild boar, jackals, striped hyenas, and wolves. After the cyclone passed over, not even a single deer was found in the area.

Forest Department officials began a search for them in groups. The state government declared to deploy drone cameras to spot them.

The death toll in Odisha due to Cyclone Fani has touched 64 with Puri recording maximum number of casualties at 39, according to official estimates released by the Odisha government on May 11.