CHANDIGARH, April 10 – A pack of stray dogs mauled a young sambar to death and seriously injured another in the Nature Trail area of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary early Wednesday morning, raising fresh concerns about wildlife safety in the protected zone.
Eyewitnesses said the attack took place around 6:30 a.m. when 15 to 20 dogs surrounded and attacked two sambars. While one managed to flee, the younger sambar collapsed due to severe injuries.
“We tried to chase the dogs away, but it was too late. The sambar had already suffered grave injuries and died on the spot,” said a visitor who witnessed the attack.
Forest officials later removed the carcass. An official from the forest department confirmed the incident and said patrolling would be intensified around water bodies and vulnerable zones.
“We are working on measures to safeguard the wildlife in the sanctuary and will take necessary steps to control stray dog movement in the area,” the official noted.
A sambar is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and southern China. Scientifically known as Rusa unicolor, it is one of the largest deer species in Asia and is commonly found in forests, grasslands, and wildlife sanctuaries like Sukhna.
