Bhubaneswar: Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary authorities on Tuesday translocated 12 deer brought from Sambalpur zoo to its habitat as part of species augmentation programme in which altogether 115 deer will be released.
In view of the proposed translocation of three tigers (two females and one male) from Madhya Pradesh to Debrigarh, the species augmentation is a supportive exercise.Prey species introduction is significantly linked to big cat translocation. Also, the overcrowded Sambalpur zoo will be free. Sambalpur zoo, according to Central Zoo Authority (CZA) norm should have eight deer in the enclosure.
“The deer were released under Boma capture method. It is a herbivore translocation technique in which animals are shifted to transporting vehicle without stress. From a bigger area, animals are gradually lured towards a narrow funnel-shape area which leads to the vehicle. The animal is not forced to reach the vehicle. It reaches on its own. There is no need of tranquillisers. The forest staff need to wait patiently so that animals hop into the vehicle on their own,” said Anshu Pragyan Das, divisional forest officer, Hirakud wildlife division.
The funnel was internally connected to the transporting vehicle, which was customised to give a natural look with grass mats, gunny bags, etc.
Official sources said density of spotted deer in Debrigarh, which is spread over 353 sq km, is between 50 and 60 per sq km. Bison density is 40 to 50 per sq km while for wild boar it is 60 to 70 per sq km.
The 12 deer that were released will be kept in a quarantine enclosure set up inside the sanctuary to facilitate their gradual acclimatisation with the wild. The quarantine enclosure is spread over 1.2 hectares. It has salt-lick, water pool, treatment care unit and CCTV cameras. An emergency healthcare unit has been set up close to the enclosure. Four machans (raised platforms) have been created around the quarantine enclosure, a wildlife officer said.
The deer will be released in Debrigarh’s wild habitat in four weeks. The quarantine enclosure will be unfenced gradually to allow the animals come out and mingle with the wild.

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