25 blackbucks die after eating poisoned crop

Hyderabad: As many as 25 blackbucks were found dead after reportedly having consumed pesticide and fertilizer used for maize crop in Mahabubnagar, forest officials said on Sunday.

A case has been registered against two farmers, who had illegally taken up sowing of maize crop on the government land, under relevant sections of the Wildlife Act.

Villagers of Gummadam, on the banks of river Krishna in Mahabubnagar on Saturday noticed the blackbucks dead and informed the matter to forest officials.

“As per preliminary inquiry, we suspect that the blackbucks consumed pesticide and fertilizer used for maize crop. Two farmers had illegally grown the crop on the land belonging to revenue department, which is a submerged area of Srisailam reservoir,” District Divisional Forest Officer Ganga Reddy said.

“We took samples from every carcass and will send it for forensic examination to know the exact reason of their deaths. The maize crop has been destroyed,” Reddy said.