Kendrapara: Twelve sheep were found dead and four other had serious injuries on the neck and throat at Bhuiyansahi in Mangalpur village of Derabish block here Friday.
Panic has once again gripped sheep farmers here who fear that their sheep might be killed by the mysterious predator.
Debashis Bhuiyan came across 12 sheep lying dead in his cattle shed and four others injured critically. Bhuiyan said he had kept 72 sheep in his cattle shed.
In August, 19 sheep were found dead with injuries on the neck and legs.
A team of forest officials led by Kendrapara ranger Adhira Kumar Behera, and veterinary surgeon of Chatta, Dr Jitanshu Mohanty, rushed to the spot. The forest personnel seized the carcasses and the veterinary surgeon conducted post-mortem.
Circumstantial evidence indicates that the sheep might have been killed by a predator, said ranger Behera.
Dr Mohanty said the sheep died to choking and their lungs had haemorrhaged as the predator inflicted deep injuries on the necks.
The sheep farmers have demanded that the district administration and the forest department should provide security to their sheep.
Locals suspect that a jackal, wolf or hyena might have sneaked from the nearby forests and killed the sheep.
PNN
