Stray dogs maul sambar to death near Sukhna

A pack of stray dogs mauled a sambar to death and injured another in the Nature Walk area of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary early this morning.

According to morning walkers, nearly 20 stray dogs attacked a pair of sambars around 6.30 am. The dogs pulled down a young sambar, while the other escaped with injuries.

A student, Ram Bahadur (15), said he was jogging in the area when he saw the dogs attacking the sambars. He, along with other morning walkers, tried to save the sambars, but to no avail. One of the sambars fell down, while the other ran into the forest, he said.

Bahadur said he poured some water into the mouth of the sambar, but it died after sometime. Jaspal Singh, a Haryana Congress leader who regularly visits the area for a walk, said it was unfortunate that a sambar had been killed by stay dogs in the sanctuary. The Forest Department must take steps to protect the precious wildlife, he said.

Meanwhile, forest officials said patrolling near water holes would be intensified and measures taken to protect animals from stray dogs.