A shocking tragedy has hit the Kittur Rani Chennamma Zoo in Belagavi, where 29 blackbucks died within just three days last week. This huge loss stunned zoo officials since the zoo had only 38 blackbucks. Senior forest officials confirmed that such a massive death toll in such a short time is unprecedented for any zoo in India. The blackbuck is a special animal, listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, meaning it is highly protected and endangered. Nagaraj Balhasuri, assistant conservator of forests in Belagavi, revealed that multiple layers of investigation are now in process. “We have sent the water and the food consumed by the deer to a government laboratory for testing,” Mr. Balhasuri said. He added that viscera samples were sent to experts at Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bengaluru to find the exact reason behind these deaths. Some officials, who wished to stay anonymous, stressed that no other zoo in India has seen such a large number of deaths in such a short span. The state government quickly stepped in after this alarming event. Forest and ecology minister Eshwar Khandre ordered a detailed probe to find the cause and stop any disease from spreading to other animals. Early reports suggest a contagious infection might be the cause. The minister told zoo authorities to be extremely careful and take strong precautions while waiting for lab results. An expert committee will be set up soon to study every possible cause. They will look into water and food contamination, and if domestic animals near the zoo could have spread any illness. This committee will provide a detailed report with advice on how to avoid such disasters again. If any zoo staff negligence is found, strict action will be taken, warned Minister Khandre. This tragedy also sheds light on animal care at the zoo. Earlier, the zoo saw the deaths of an old tiger and an old lion, which officials said were natural. The Kittur Rani Chennamma Zoo spans 15 hectares but wants to grow bigger – at least 35 hectares – to become a medium-sized zoo. They hope the Central Zoo Authority will approve adding 20 more hectares of forest land. Right now, the zoo holds 205 animals and birds, including lions, tigers, crocodiles, various deer, and different birds. The zoo’s upgrade plans include a bigger tiger safari and adding exciting new animals like giraffes, hippos, zebras, wild dogs, bison, ostriches, and more deer species. This zoo began as a nature camp in 1989 and became a mini zoo in 2020. It gained fame as the first zoo developed under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Thanks to Range Forest Officer Pavan Kuraning’s efforts, the zoo has improved a lot recently, with new attractions like a reptile park, crocodile park, 3D gallery, and a watchtower. Still, the sudden death of almost the entire blackbuck population is one of the biggest challenges the zoo has ever faced. Everyone waits anxiously for the investigation’s results to understand how this heartbreaking event happened and how to protect these precious animals in the future.