The dead deer at Bethuadahari. (Supriyo Dasgupta)

Bethuadahari, Aug. 31: A spotted deer died, possibly of heart failure, after visitors tried to catch hold of some of the animals for pictures at a reserve forest in Nadia’s Bethuadahari today.

Another deer was found unconscious with cuts all over its body at the forest, popularly known as “deer park”.

Forest officials said around 1,000 visitors had flocked to the park as today was a holiday.

“Around noon, the guards noticed some teenagers running after some deer to catch hold of them so that their friends could click photographs. The animals were running helter-skelter in fright,” said J.P. Guha Roy, the forest ranger of Bethuadahari. “The guards forced four boys to leave the park.”

“After some time, the guards spotted another group of boys and girls trying to grab some deer to click pictures with cellphones. They did not pay any heed when the guards warned them,” Guha Roy said.

A guard said: “Some of the visitors formed a human chain so that the animals could not run away. A few of the deer jumped but hit an iron fence and collapsed. As we rushed towards them, they got up and fled.”

Around 2pm, some of the guards saw a deer lying dead and another unconscious.

“The dead deer was five years old. It appears that the dear died of heart failure caused by fear. The other animal had cuts on its body. It has been given saline drip and is recovering,” the ranger said.

Guha Roy said the park, which has 233 deer, was closed around 3pm instead of the usual 4.30pm. “We then searched the park to see if there were more dead or injured deer, but we did not find any. We will search the forest again tomorrow,” he said.

Sajal Bal, one of the visitors, said he saw three spotted deer lying in the park. “I am not sure if they were dead or unconscious,” he added.

Forest minister Hiten Burman said he had ordered an inquiry. “I want to know why police help was not sought to manage the crowd today.”

The ranger said the park was understaffed. “There are only 10 guards for the 68-acre park. It is not possible to provide security to the deer with such a small contingent of guards,” Guha Roy said.