India, July 17 -- The recent deaths of 16 Chital deer at the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Katraj (Katraj Zoo) have raised alarm bells, with authorities suspecting foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) as a possible cause, officials said. While the infection has not yet been officially confirmed, preliminary observations indicate signs of the highly contagious viral disease. Confirmation is awaited pending laboratory reports.

The zoo reported the deaths of 14 female and two male Chital deer recently between July 6 and July 12, with the sudden fatalities raising concerns over the effectiveness of health and safety measures at the zoo. So much so that veterinary experts and disease specialists were brought in to investigate the reason behind the ...