India, July 26 -- The Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Katraj lost approximately 16.33% of its deer population in just six days this July due to a highly contagious viral outbreak. Laboratory reports from the ICAR-National Institute on Foot and Mouth Disease (Bhubaneswar) and the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (Bhopal) have confirmed that 16 spotted deer died between July 6 and 12 due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Health experts noted that FMD is especially prevalent during the monsoon season and primarily affects grazing animals such as deer and cattle. The increased moisture during this period enables rapid transmission of the virus in the environment. Zoo authorities said they had initiated preventive measures, ...