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Four deer die due to bacterial infection at zoo in Karnataka’s Davanagere

The Indira Priyadarshini Mini Zoo in Karnataka’s Davanagere houses 170 deer, including 94 females, 58 males, and 18 fawns—all now considered at risk.

2 min readBangaloreUpdated: Jan 20, 2026 08:17 PM IST

The bacterial infection is similar to that which caused the deaths of 31 blackbucks at Belagavi's Kittur Rani Chennamma Mini Zoo in November 2025. (File Photo)

Four spotted deer have died at the Indira Priyadarshini Mini Zoo in Karnataka’s Davanagere due to haemorrhagic septicaemia bacterial infection, according to officials.

The first spotted deer died on January 16, followed by two more deaths on January 17, and another on January 18. The zoo houses 170 deer, including 94 females, 58 males, and 18 fawns—all now considered at risk.

Speaking to indianexpress.com, Deputy Conservator of Forests Harshavardhan P N said on Tuesday that officials had collected necessary samples and sent them to the laboratory and were awaiting the reports.

The zoo was temporarily closed to the public on January 19 and would be opened only when the situation comes under control, said Harshavardhan.

According to the sources in the forest department, the bacterial infection is similar to that which caused the deaths of 31 blackbucks at Belagavi’s Kittur Rani Chennamma Mini Zoo in November 2025.

“We suspect that it is a similar bacterial infection, but we will get confirmation once we get the report. As we speak, the animals have been isolated and are being monitored round the clock. We have already started medication as well,” Harshavardhan added.

The autopsy reports of the dead deer have indicated pneumonia. Other animals are being vaccinated through food, said an official.

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To prevent further casualties, the forest department initiated prophylactic and preventive treatments for the remaining deer in consultation with veterinarians and experts from Belagavi and Bengaluru.

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