Chhattisgarh has recorded death of as many as 461 wild animals during the past one-and-half years due to various reasons, informed Forest Minister Mahesh Gagda in a written reply to BJP MlA Devji Bhai Patel in the Chhattisgarh Assembly on Wednesday.
Gagda informed that a total of 461 wild animals had died since January 1 till June 25 this year due to various reasons including, poaching, scarcity of water and other factors. The highest number of wild animals died in Mahasamund district numbering 54, he informed.
Elephant, leopard, bear, bison, cheetal, peacock, deer, wild boar and others are among wild animals which died during the said period, the Minister stated.
He further stated that out of these deaths, 59 animals were killed in poaching, one died due to scarcity of water while rest of the animals lost their lives due to various other reasons.
The highest number of deaths were recorded in Mahasamund district with 54 followed by Balodabazar (50), Rajnandgaon (42), Dhamtari (38), Bilaspur (37), Raigarh (36), Gariaband (34), Balod (21), Korba (19), Koriya (18), Kanker (15), Raipur (13), Bastar (13), Jashpur (12), Mungeli (11), Surguja (9), Kondgaon (8), Kabirdham (8), Surajpur (6), Balrampur (6), Dantewada (6), Narayanpur (2) and Bijapur (1), he said.
Moreover, maximum death of wild animals due to poaching was recorded in Balodabazar (10) and Bilaspur (8), he informed.