Population control plans for Jharkhand Deer Park inmates

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http://www.dailyindia.com/show/45426.php/Family_planning_for_Ranchi_deer

Family planning for Ranchi deer

 

By Indo Asian News Service

 

Ranchi, July 25 (IANS) The growing deer population at the deer park here is

prompting officials to introduce family planning for the animal as grazing

land is rapidly falling short.

 

The deer park, located on the outskirts of the Jharkhand capital, is spread

over a sprawling 53 acres. It is now home to 237 deer, a similar number of

cheetals, 40 sambars and other animals.

 

'There are two ways to reduce the number of deer in the park. First, to go

for sterilisation and, second, releasing them in forest areas. The deer

should get proper land for grazing and running. Here the animal finds

difficult to run due to lack of enough space,' said one forest department

official.

 

According to the norm set by the central zoo authority (CZA), one deer

should get at least one acre of land. But the animals here have been crammed

due to their booming population.

 

The CZA and the World Conservation Union stipulate that the deer park should

house only 53 animals. But it now has 237 deer, which is more than four

times the prescribed number, another official said.

 

'The authorities of CZA visited the park last week and expressed their

unhappiness over the number,' he said.

 

The sterlisation process is likely to begin soon, followed by the releasing

of deer in the wild.

 

Copyright Indo-Asian News Service