Three deer were found dead today in the forests of Nandadevi National Park near Joshimath during a search in the wake of reports that they were dying one after another of some infectious disease in the area.
"Three deer have been found dead so far in the park area near Joshimath. Two of them seem to have died natural deaths but there is something suspicious about the death of one. We have sent their samples for testing to Indian Wildlife Institute," NNP DFO Rajiv Dhiman said.
Whether they died of some infectious disease will be known only after we receive the IWI report, he said.
However, the search continues due to claims by locals that over a dozen deer carcasses were lying scattered in the forests over a 10 km area between Thang and Urgam, he said.
Park sources requesting anonymity said there is a strong possibility of the deer dying of an infectious disease as they had died in quick succession.
