Date:18/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/18/stories/2008071858270300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Safe passage for stray deer

Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI: A deer that had strayed from Thatchankurichi forest area near Samayapuram into Purathakudi village was returned to its habitat thanks to responsible villagers and Forest department.

As soon as the five-year-old spotted deer stepped into a residence on Wednesday, the villagers confined it and promptly informed the Forest department.

District Forest Officer D. Mani, Ranger S. Jeyapathi and Forester S. Sampath Kumar trapped the animal with extreme care and let it into the forest late in the evening. With cashew and other vegetations, the forest is spread over 930 hectares.

It is for the first time that a deer could return to its habitat after straying.

Earlier, such straying animals had died either due to human handling or after getting run over by vehicles, said Mr. Sampath Kumar.

There are nearly 100 spotted deer in the forest, he said.