Cuttack: The sole deer park at Tulasipur in Cuttack maintained by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) is wallowing in neglect due to the alleged apathy by the civic body.
Reports said the park that began with only six deer in 1981 is now home to more than 200 four-legged beauties while as per norms of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) only 15 deer can be kept in 2.5 acre of land.
The overcrowding often leads to many problems including health issues among the spotted sprinters. The locals have also started raising concerns alleging that the concerned civic body has failed to maintain the habitat of the animals.
A tourist Swati Mohanty said, “My kids enjoy a lot visiting the deer park. But as the park has become overcrowded with deer, they must be feeling like being kept in captive. Adequate drinking water facilities and enough trees to provide them forest-like environment should be ensured.”
A guard at the park, Shiba Prasad Mishra said, “The area is very small in comparison to the number of deer in the park. The concerned authorities have started the process to identify of another land where the animal can be shifted. Hopefully it will be done soon.”
Though 39 acres of land was identified near Munduli for setting up of second deer park in 2017 and the tender for it has already been awarded, the project is yet to kick start.
However, Mayor of Cuttack Municipal Commissioner, Minakshi Behera assured that measures to rehabilitate the mammals will be taken soon.
“The tender was given to a contractor but he is not ready to start the work due to various issues. We will discuss the matter and make arrangements to shift the deer as soon as possible,” informed the Mayor.