CHENNAI: IIT-Madras has blamed stray dogs for alarming rise in deer deaths inside the campus. In a detailed reply submitted before the registrar court of National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday, IIT-M director Bhaskar Ramamurthi claimed that because of the sincere efforts made by the institute in maintaining its flora and fauna, the density of chitals, which was 155 in 2006 increased to 300 as per the 2012 survey and to over 400 by 2014. The number of blackbucks, endangered species, has gone up from 12 in 2006 to 34 in 2013. The last census was undertaken in 2015.
However, there have been several reported cases of deer deaths recently caused primarily due to stray dog bites on the campus. “The deer deaths due to dogs have gone up because of increase in population of dogs. IIT-Madras has entered into an agreement with Blue Cross to periodically vaccinate or neuter the dogs. But, considering the vast area of the campus, the entry of stray dogs from outside cannot be completely restricted. Nor can it be ensured that all dogs on the campus can be caught and neutered. As a consequence, the population of stray dogs on the campus has increased in recent years despite concerted efforts made by the Blue Cross of India as well by the Corporation of Chennai.
The recent cyclone and floods have created breaches which have enabled stray dogs’ entry into the campus. The existing provisions against relocation of dogs have also constrained the IIT administration from effective stray dog population control,” the director stated in the reply expressing his helplessness.
But the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), in a letter to the State Forest Department, questioned why autopsy was not done on the deer and in the absence of any evidence how the conclusion was drawn. Based on an Express report published in May, which quoted an RTI response that 220 deer and eight endangered blackbucks died between 2013 and 2016 on the campus, AWBI secretary M Ravikumar wrote to the Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests on August 1 requesting to investigate the deer deaths.
“No postmortem of the wild animals was done to ascertain the actual reasons for the cause of death of deer/blackbucks which are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It is generally assumed that the deaths of deer/blackbucks are due to stray dogs without ascertaining the actual cause. I, therefore, request you to take necessary action through proper postmortem and furnish a detailed report to the Board,” Ravikumar stated in the letter.With regard to constructions without consent from the TNPCB and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), Ramamurthi said the institute has applied for Consent to Establish and CMDA approval is awaited for inclusion of buildings in IIT Madras constructed after 2006.
Campus litter-free?
Petitioner Antony Clement Rubin said IIT-M claimed the campus was litter-free and there was a total ban on the sale of material in plastic bags. “I have pictures taken in the last few weeks which show deer feeding on paper and plastic. So many deaths are caused in road kills, which has no mention in the reply,” he said.