A group of 42 spotted deer were released in Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary on Monday. Spotted deer were sent to Kheoni from Van Vihar National Park Bhopal. In order to provide sufficient food to the deer, green grasses and Khus is being provided in jungle. Forest officials said that efforts are being made to keep the wildlife engaged in jungle. Forest officials informed that there are around six tigers and other carnivore present in the sanctuary. There are 155 species of birds and many rare species. Deer have been released into the sanctuary for maintaining food chain of animals. Officials said that for past few days fire incidents have been reported from nearby areas due to which grass and herbs have been destroyed. Team has been assigned there to provide green grass and food to the herbivore in sufficient quantity. In search of food, animals are moving towards residential areas.

Around 58 to 60 spotted deer would be released into Kheoni Sanctuary from Van Vihar National Park Bhopal in second phase. Van Vihar has surplus number of spotted deer due to which officials are distributing the population at various forest areas. The park management informed that there are plan to translocate around 100 spotted deer to Kheoni out of which 45 have been already sent. As population of spotted deer is growing at faster pace in Van Vihar National Park, more than 300 herbivores have been shifted to other forest areas of state.

Deer are being translocated through African technology Boma that help to capture the animal in natural way. The park has planned to shift around 200 more spotted deer to various tiger reserves.

Deputy Director of Van Vihar A K Jain said that the park has capacity of 200 cheetals. At present there are more than 500 cheetal in the park due to which they are being shifted to other reserves. In first phase, spotted deer were sent to Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, Ratapani Sanctuary and Ralamandal Sanctuary. In second phase, cheetals are being shifted to Kheoni Sanctuary and nearby forest areas of Dewas.