Cuttack, June 27: An investigation into the deaths of sheep at Niali in the district has found that some unidentified "predatory animals" have killed them for their viscera.

A four-member expert team of the animal husbandry and veterinary services department, which probed into the deaths, said the sheep in the area had become soft targets for more than one predatory animal, who took away the viscera while leaving the body behind.

The team, led by a specialist from the Animal Disease Research Institute, today submitted their report to the department's director.

Confirming this to The Telegraph, the department's director Pratap Chandra Dash said: "In its report, the expert team has attributed the sheep deaths to an animal, essentially predatory in nature. "The report has indicated that the sheep were not victims of one predator and too heavy to be carried away by the killers. Instead, the predators used their claws to pin down the sheep and tear open their stomach to get to their entrails," Dash said.

Official sources said the district administration had stepped up vigil in the area. Three squads, consisting of 50 officials, have been deployed and CCTVs are being set up in the zone.

The forest department are laying traps, and if necessary, will use crackers to help officials nab the animals.

Official reports indicated at least 89 sheep had been killed at Alana and its adjoining villages in Niali block this month. The last three deaths were reported from Alana on Sunday.

"There were no deaths between June 20 and 24. But on June 25 night, five sheep were targeted. Three were left dead with their viscera missing. The other two, left injured, survived after their torn belly was stitched up," Dash said.

"The unidentified predatory animals could be wolf or hyena from the nearby forest that hid behind the large stretches of betel vines and waited till night to prey on the sheep," the director said.

The police teamed up with local youths to keep tabs on the animals preying on sheep in the area. The teams, consisting of local youth and police personnel, have started guarding the area at night to spot, and if possible, capture the predators.

The cops have taken serious note of a photo and video of a mysterious creature, which yesterday went viral claiming it to be preying on the sheep at Niali. The creature shown in cage is claimed to have been caught by forest personnel.

"It's bogus news. Action will be taken against those who are spreading such fake pictures and video. If required, we will take the help of cyber cell," Cuttack (rural) SP Madhav Sahoo said.