Wolves, foxes behind sheep deaths in Odisha: WII

Bhubaneswar: Wolves, foxes and hyenas are the predators responsible for the mass killing of sheep in Niali and other places in Odisha, revealed the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) after conducting a detailed study in the affected areas.

Last week, the expert team of WII visited Niali and other parts in the State where similar incidents of sheep deaths were reported and examined things like the killing pattern and pug marks of the 'mysterious animal' from ground zero.

As per WII, wolves are behind the Niali sheep deaths while foxes and hyenas have killed sheep in Bhanjanagar. From the patterns it seems the killings were part of training the predators impart to their newborns, said WII.

“The attacks are carried out by wild animals. This type of attacks is called surplus killing by wild animals,” said WII expert Salvador Lingdo.

Meanwhile, sources said that government is likely to provide compensation to all the sheep farmers within one month.

Also Read: Niali panic spreads to Bhanjanagar as sheep death continues

We have recommended amendment in the Wild Life Protection Act. We will check the market rates and other related things and begin the compensation process soon

- said the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests SS Srivastav

After all efforts of the forest department and the Nandankanan Zoo and Similipal National Park experts to trap the predator responsible for mass sheep killing  failed to yield any results, the State government had roped in WII experts to resolve the issue.