**Bhubaneswar: ** There is a spurt in the baffling deaths of sheep by a mysterious slayer that has been hogging headlines, going viral on social media and has simultaneously unleashed a reign of terror among the panic-stricken villagers in Odisha these days.
OMMCOM NEWS tried to delve into the reports that are not only flooding mainstream media spaces, but has also put both the State Administration and wildlife authorities on a tizzy as the predator is still at large and the killing is being reported unabatedly.
Here we have attempted at finding out the rhyme and reason behind the spate in sheep deaths reported from across the State here.
Talking to us over phone, Prashanta Kumar Mishra, DFO, City Forest, Bhubaneswar opined, “May be the prey animal is not there (elusive). Previously such stray incidents used to be in the rural belt, but were out of public knowledge. Now media is very active. So the major reason behind the viral news may be attributed to media hype.”
“Another reason can also be attributed that the animal might have got suddenly one of the domesticated animals as an easy prey, easier to kill. That’s why it is killing. There are lots of reasons behind it. We cannot ascribe to any particular reason because we don’t know what really has happened. No doubt, the animal has killed a number of sheep. Because it was found no prey animal found in the nature,” he added.
Elucidating, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) averred, “Wolf normally is the highest order of predator in these (coastal) areas. For its predation, normally rabbits and rodents are needed. Ironically, the human beings have started entrapping them (rabbits and rodents) and relishing. Naturally, it (wolf) has to find out an alternative thing.”
On its domino effect over Odisha gradually, he remarked, “Everywhere wolves and jackals are there. It (killing domestic animals) casually happens all there. The juveniles of the predators survive on such killings.”
On the compensation demand by the aggrieved sheep owners, the DFO made it clear, “There is no compensation for this as per the Forest Act. What is the proof that the wolf has killed? We are suspecting. Nowhere wolf is detected. It’s still a mysterious animal and an elusive predator.”
In his reactions, eminent wildlife activist of Odisha Biswajit Mohanty said, “Niali (Cuttack district) sheep death case and Bhanjanagar (Ganjam district) sheep death case pattern is different. Bite marks of the Bhanjanagar sheep have been found on different parts of the body. Style of attack is different. It may not be wolf.”
“In Niali case, we are barely certain that it is a wolf attack going by the pugmarks. In Bhanjanagar case, it could be other animal like pharrell dog or dhole. Chance of dhole (wild dog) is less but pharrell dog is more. Pharrell dog is the domestic dog gone wild staying away from human habitation,” he argued.
However, he stated, “The Bhanjanagar case need to be investigated from the pugmarks as the pattern of killing is different. Ear and hair of the prey have been bitten. In wolf attack such a pattern is never found.”
Explaining on the issue, the wildlife activist viewed, “Because of the increased attention by media and others, cases are now coming to light. Earlier such cases were not being reported. Even the government was also not aware. As Niali incident is being in news continuously over the fortnight, it has created a hullaballoo. Otherwise such a menace usually happens all over Odisha.”
He further commented, “As the anxious people are yet to know about the killer animal, rumours are spreading like wildfire and social media is adding fuel to the fire of panic. Or else, the villagers near the forests are used to such killings of their livestock. Such cases were already there. As Niali case continued and media hyped it, it has been a prime talk of the town. In the breeding season, the predator is actively on prowl.”
Notably, the mysterious sheep deaths have now been reported from Athagarh in Cuttack district and Betanati in Mayurbhanj district close on the heels of Niali (Cuttack district), Bhanjanagar (Ganjam district) and Jagatsinghpur district.
The elusive animal has killed at least eight sheep and left six others injured on Tuesday night.
The unidentified animal strayed into Panchaggan village under Tigiria block near Athagarh and dragged six lambs out of a shed. Villagers found four of them dead and two others injured in the morning.
Sources said, the killing took place in similar style to the Niali attacks on sheep while forest officials are examining the pug marks of the marauder.
Local residents found pug marks on the mud in farm lands. Forest officials visited the spot after receiving a call from the villagers and examined pug marks of the animal after seizing the sheep carcasses.
