Spotted deer dies in zoo

A male spotted deer, about 7 years of age, died at the National Zoological Park on Saturday after it was seriously injured during a fight with another male spotted dear.

A male spotted deer, about 7 years of age, died at the National Zoological Park on Saturday after it was seriously injured during a fight with another male spotted dear.

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"The two were fighting when one of them was hit hard by another's antler. It was fatal," said Riaz Khan, zoo's curator (education).

Dr Pannir Selvam, zoo's veterinarian explained, "This is nothing unusual. This is common during their breeding season. The fighting happens mainly to attract the female deers."

"While sparring is more common between young stags, the mature prefer horning, with standing on hind legs and attacking others," Dr Selvam added.

There are 90-odd spotted deer—(Axis axis) called Cheetal in Hindi — at the National Zoological Park . They are protected under the schedule III of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.