the goan I network
VALPOI
Alarm was triggered after seven monkeys were found dead in a suspicious manner near Keri-Sattari, reviving fears over the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), or Monkey fever, which claimed some lives and affected several others in Sattari Taluka in the recent past.
The incident prompted the forest department officials to undertake combing operations in and around Keri to check for any other deaths among monkeys in the area, sources told The Goan.
Sources said three monkeys were found dead in the farmhouse of Sagar Gawas at Baheri Alwada in Keri-Sattari four days ago.
The forest department was notified and a post mortem was conducted. Since the post mortem report remained inconclusive, further tests will be conducted at the forensic lab in Pune and results are expected in 15 days.
On Wednesday, three more monkeys were found dead in the area, while another monkey was also found dead on Friday, triggering panic among locals in the area.
A veterinary officer conducted the Panchnama and post mortem was also conducted.
Taking note of the situation, the forest department has begun combing operations in the forested areas of in and around the Keri village to check if other monkeys had died in the area.
Speaking to reporters, Range Forest Officer Girish Bailudkar said the forest department has actively taken part to control the situation, ever since the seven monkeys were found dead.
Bailudkar has appealed to people in the area to intimate the forest department if any other monkey is found dead.
