Hyderabad: Deer killed in attack by pack of street dogs on UoH campus

It is said that animals and birds are getting more exposed to attacks after the government felled trees in 100 acres in Kancha Gachibowli

Hyderabad: With their homes shattered and green cover lost after Telangana Congress government bulldozed Kancha Gachibowli land, animals and birds are getting more exposed to attacks by street dogs on the UoH campus.

A spotted deer was killed in an attack by dogs on the University of Hyderabad campus here on Friday morning. The incident was reported near the J-Hostel where a pack of street dogs grievously injured the deer.

A few students and university security personnel quickly responded to the injured animal, providing immediate care before transporting it for further treatment. The video of the injured deer being transported has been widely shared on social media.

Speaking to ‘Telangana Today’, a Public Health research scholar, Suresh G, who was the first responder, said a pack of dogs attacked the deer, which was in between Tagore International House and J-Hostel.

“As I heard deer whining, I immediately rushed and shoved the dogs away. But by then the dogs attacked the deer from behind. During the process of rescuing, the deer struck one of the security guards with its horns. We administered first aid and transported the animal to Nanakramguda veterinary hospital for further treatment,” he said. However, the deer could not be saved.

This was not the first incident of dogs attacking deer on the university campus.  Every year, several deer fall prey to such attacks.

Meanwhile, several videos of the deer venturing out of their natural habitat in Kancha Gachibowli surfaced on Friday. In one unverified video, a deer was seen grazing near the varsity buildings after a large portion of trees and plants were cleared by the State government in Kancha Gachibowli.

The Kancha Gachibowli forest, abutting the UoH campus, is home to over 700 flowering plants, 10 species of mammals, 15 species of reptiles and around 230 species of birds, besides rock formations that date back to over a billion years.

After deciding to auction this 400 acres of biodiversity-rich land, the State government fell trees in around 100 acres, leaving animals more vulnerable to attacks. However, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed all activities in Kancha Gachibowli until further orders.

Meanwhile, the GHMC’s dog-catching team reached the university campus to catch the stray dogs.