The two-member team of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which visited sheep-killing sites of Niali and Bhanjanagar, on Monday, said wolves, hyenas and jackals are killing rams and lambs at different places.
“We feel that nocturnal animals like wolves, hyenas and jackals are killing sheep different places,” team memer Dr Salvador lyngdoh told reporters.
Notably, lyngdoh and his associate Sougata Sadhukhan visited villages under Niali block in Cuttack district and villages under Bhanjanagar block in Ganjam district and conducted on-the-spot study. They held discussions with PCCF (Wildlife) SS Srivastava and Additional PCCF PK Mohan before and after their visits.
On the reason behind mass killing of sheep, they said the killer animals might be training their cubs on how to hunt preys. They felt that consumption of soft tissues and visceral parts as well as preference of sheep over goats or calves of cattle was normal.
Srivastava said farmers, whose sheep have been killed, would be compensated by the Government. “We had sent a proposal to the Government suggesting amending laws to pay compensation to affected farmers. The Government has agreed to it,” said he.