The sambar fawn born in the Kholta deer park. Picture by Main Uddin Chisti

Cooch Behar, March 9: Forest officers are elated over the birth of a sambar fawn for the first time in the Kholta deer park, dispelling concerns by wildlife activists that a toy train introduced at the facility would harm the breeding prospect of the animal.

Conservator of forests Manindra Biswas, who visited the park today, revealed that the male fawn had been born on February 4 and was doing very well. “He is a healthy and sprightly deer. This is the first time that a deer has given birth in Kholta,” he said.

The Kholta deer park, located about 15km from here, was opened on February 4 last year and four chital does and two stags were released. In a separate enclosure, there were two sambar does and a stag.

When a toy train was introduced in the park, there were murmurs of dissent from animal lovers that the service would adversely affect the breeding prospect of the deer. They had said the noise of the train’s horn would disturb the animals.

However, the birth of the sambar after one year has come as a great relief for the foresters. “After a year, the adult deer have remained perfectly healthy and they are regularly checked by veterinarians. Two of the chital does are also pregnant and we are expecting them to give birth soon,” said Biswas.

Biswas (left) visits the park on Tuesday. (Main Uddin Chisti)

The park spread over six hectares is located on the bank of the Alaikumari. While four hectares were converted into a children’s park, the rest makes up the two enclosures for the two deer species. The toy train runs along the deer enclosures.

A forester said with the introduction of the toy train service, the park had become a favourite destination for the local people as well as those from Alipurduar, 6km away. In the past one month, the park has earned Rs 20,000 from the toy train rides, for which Rs 5 is charged per head.

“We want the park to be more attractive for visitors. The work is on to set up a gharial rescue centre and a park with pea fowl. We have planted trees like bamboo, haritaki, bahara and gamar for the deer’s fodder and also sowed Napier grass,” said Biswas.

When contacted, Bengal forest minister Ananta Roy said the news of the birth of the sambar fawn was a positive one. “We are glad that the number of deer has gone up in the park as it will become more popular for local visitors as well as tourists from outside.”