Jharkhand seeks Bengal help to tackle deer population

Ranchi -- The Jharkhand forest department has sought assistance from its counterparts in West Bengal to shift deer from Ranchi to the Hazaribagh sanctuary.

The large number of deer in Birsa Mrig Bihar, about 30 km from Ranchi, has drawn flak from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). The uncontrolled rise in deer population has resulted in 273 animals in the 53-acre park.

The Jharkhand forest department has sought experts, technicians and nets from West Bengal to shifts the fawns to the Hazaribagh sanctuary.

"The help has been sought as the CZA had taken exception to the large number of deer, posing threat to their survival. CZA norms say one deer should get at least one acre of land to move, run and graze," said an official of forest department.

"We have got the approval from CZA to shift nine fawns from the deer park to Hazaribagh sanctuary," he said.

Forest officials said deer are oversensitive and prone to sustaining quick injuries while trapping and shifting. So nets and experts are required to make the job easy.