Four spotted deer, as many blackbucks and a four-horned antelope kept in the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Nagpur were found dead on the morning of Wednesday, 6 February, an official said.
Although the cause of their death is yet to be ascertained, authorities suspect that they might have been killed by a leopard that possibly entered the rescue centre from the nearby forest area.
"Four spotted deer, four black bucks and a four-horned antelope in the Wildlife Rescue Centre were found dead. The incident came to light on Wednesday morning," Divisional Manager of Gorewada project, Nandkishore Kale, said in a press release.
He said a leopard from the wild might have killed these animals, and an investigation was on.
The post-mortem of the carcasses was performed, following which they were cremated, sources said.
The Wildlife Rescue Centre, which was opened inDecember 2016, is located in Gorewada International Zoo project, wherein wild animals injured in accidents are kept and given treatment.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)