Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishor Ram issued show-cause notices to two senior officials of the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park following the deaths of 17 Spotted Deer, which have been confirmed to have succumbed to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).

The deer were part of a herd of 99 at the PMC-run zoo. The fatalities occurred between July 7 and 12, raising alarm among nature lovers and visitors. The incident has sparked serious questions over the quality of animal care, despite the significant funds PMC allocates annually for zoo upkeep and wildlife welfare.

A detailed investigation by the National Centre for Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Bhubaneswar, confirmed the presence of FMD, a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, and deer.