For about 45 days, a protected blackbuck fawn lived in an Indian farmer's care, apparently unnoticed by local forest personnel. The farmer sheltered the frightened animal after finding it fleeing stray dogs.
Here's what to know
The female fawn was two months old when forest personnel collected it, according to The New Indian Express. It had wandered into farmland near Bajraguma village in Odisha's Ganjam district.
At his home, the farmer cared for the animal from the time he spotted it being chased by stray dogs until authorities arrived. Bajraguma falls under Chaudhuritikarpada panchayat in Digapahandi block.
Forester E Ganesh led the Nuapada forest section personnel who retrieved the fawn. Their visit followed information supplied by a villager, according to The New Indian Express.
More background
Digapahandi and Sanakhemundi have seen their blackbuck populations grow.
Whether staff or the range officer had known about the animal — and what might have delayed intervention if they had — were among residents' questions. They also challenged how forest personnel could have missed the fawn's whereabouts for roughly six weeks.
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Guidance on responding to blackbucks entering human settlements was another concern. Locals alleged that the department's outreach to villagers had been inadequate.
However, the report did not establish whether forest staff had known about the fawn before the villager notified authorities.
What's being done?
The fawn's trip to a veterinary hospital for examination and care came after forest personnel had brought it to their range office in Digapahandi.
Officials later released the healthy fawn into a nearby reserved forest.
The villager's report was a specific example of taking local action: passing information to the personnel responsible for wildlife care.
The approximately 45 days the fawn spent at the farmer's home will be the focus of an investigation into why locally stationed forest personnel failed to notice it. Digapahandi ranger Dibyaranjan Sahu announced the planned inquiry, The New Indian Express reported.
Where can I learn more?
The farmer stepped in when he saw a fawn in danger, as others have done for wildlife in trouble. These stories cover elephant calf rescues in India and efforts to save fawns and a deer trapped in netting.
• In India, fishermen pulled an elephant calf from the Teesta River, returning it to its herd.
• In Assam, a rescued elephant calf found comfort with another orphan after arriving wrapped in ropes.
• In Michigan, firefighters widened a subdivision fence to free a fawn wedged in a gate.
• A driver freed a deer choking in netting after spotting it in a backyard.
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