Six Spotted female deer, aged around two to three years, were found dead in two dry farm wells in Morappur Range on Sunday. Sources said that residents of Yettipatti, A Vilampatti and Agraharam found the dead deer in two farm wells.
On information, a team of forest officials rushed to the spot and found three deer in the well located in a farm owned by one Nainar of Yettipatti and three more in a well in the farm of Tamilmani of A Vilampatti and another one was found in the farm well of Ganesan of Agraharam.
The team rescued one of the three deer, which was battling for life, from the well in Nainar land. The carcass of six others were also retrieved.
The rescued deer was being rendered treatment at Harur DFO’s office.
The dead animals were buried on the premises of the DFO’s office after postmortem.
Forest officials said that the deer might have strayed into these farms in search of water and would have fallen into the wells.
According to villagers, the deer population is high in Morappur and Harur ranges. Many deer get hit by vehicles during night when they try to cross the road on Harur-Dharmapuri ghat section and it was a common affair during summer as these animals come out of the forest in search of water. Residents suggested that to protect wildlife, Forest Department should create artificial ponds in the jungles.
Though there is frequent movement of animals on Harur-Dharmapuri ghat section, mainly during night time, no sign or caution board has been erected on the stretch to alert vehicle users, the villagers and conservationists regretted.
When contacted the Dharmapuri Conservator of Forest Manjunath told Express that a proposal for creating artificial ponds in all ranges of Harur division to avoid any similar incident has been submitted to the government and the establishment works would commence soon after getting official approval.