The Indian Army and the state forest department have launched separate probes into the deaths of 18 monkeys in a cantonment in north Bengal.
The bodies of the monkeys were found on Tuesday in a swimming pool of the cantonment, 600 km from Kolkata.
Some army members noticed the dead monkeys floating in the pool. They conveyed the matter to seniors, who passed on the information to the state forest department.
By the time veterinary doctors and forest officials arrived, 12 more were recovered in a semi-conscious state.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Atanu Raha said initial examinations suggest the monkeys were poisoned.
State forest minister Ananta Roy said that a high-level enquiry had been initiated under PCCF (Wildlife) Silvent Patil.
“The pool’s water is also being tested at the lab,” he said.