Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Hog deer found dead at Delhi zoo; inquiry sought
A deer called a hog deer was found dead at a zoo in New Delhi, India.
Its neck was stuck in a wire mesh inside its enclosure.
Its body had been there for some time and was already decomposing when it was found on August 8.
A zoo employee who was on leave wrote a letter asking for a careful investigation.
The employee thinks the animals may not have been watched closely enough.
The letter asks officials to check camera footage, work records, and medical files.
The zoo director says every animal death is followed by a postmortem and action will be taken if anyone is at fault.
This happened a few months after a jackal died at the same zoo.
The jackal had escaped and suffocated inside a bear den after staff reportedly used chilli powder and fire to try to get it out.
A hog deer was found dead in a decomposing condition at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi on August 8, with its neck stuck in a wire mesh.
Zoo director Sanjeet Kumar said all animal deaths are followed by postmortem and proper action will be taken as per report and inquiry.
An employee who was on leave submitted a letter seeking a detailed and impartial inquiry into the death and alleged lapses in monitoring.
The letter demands verification of beat register entries, duty rosters, CCTV footage, duty charts, and medical records, and action against those found responsible.
The incident comes months after a jackal escaped its enclosure and was found dead, partially burnt, inside a Himalayan black bear den on December 18.
- Who
- A hog deer at the National Zoological Park, zoo director Sanjeet Kumar, and an employee who submitted a letter seeking inquiry.
- What
- The hog deer was found dead in a decomposing condition with its neck stuck in a wire mesh, prompting demands for an inquiry into alleged monitoring lapses.
- When
- The deer was found dead on August 8; the matter was reported on August 13.
- Where
- National Zoological Park, New Delhi
- Why
- The complaint alleges lapses in monitoring and inspection of animals and delays in reporting the death to senior officers.
Zoo workers and critics
Zoo administration
Animal monitoring and accountability
Zoo workers and critics
An employee's letter alleges lapses in monitoring, non-adherence to staff instructions, and that the hog deer's death was not immediately reported to senior officers; it demands an impartial inquiry and action against those responsible.
Zoo administration
Zoo director Sanjeet Kumar said every animal death is followed by a postmortem and that proper action would be taken as per the report and inquiry.
- Animal
- Hog deer
- Location
- National Zoological Park, New Delhi
- Date found
- August 8
- Condition
- Neck stuck in wire mesh; body in decomposed state
- Zoo director
- Sanjeet Kumar
- Official response
- All deaths followed by postmortem; action per report and inquiry
- Inquiry demands
- Review of CCTV footage, beat registers, duty charts, medical records
- Prior incident
- Jackal found dead, partially burnt, on December 18 after escaping its enclosure