Over 50 deer horns recovered from Bhitarkanika National Park

Odisha: A major discovery inside Bhitarkanika National Park has triggered fresh concerns about wildlife safety after more than 50 deer antlers were found scattered across the Dobandhi forest under the Rajnagar Range on Friday.

The sheer quantity of antlers and the condition in which some were recovered have raised suspicion of possible poaching activity in the protected area.
According to initial observations, several antlers appeared to have fallen off naturally, which is a normal biological process for deer. However, some antlers looked as though they had been forcefully removed.

This has led to fears that poachers may be active in the region, undermining the conservation efforts within one of Odisha’s most important wildlife habitats.

The Forest Department, however, has played down the concern, stating that deer naturally shed their antlers every year, and the accumulation could simply be a result of seasonal shedding.

Officials clarified that finding multiple antlers in forest interiors is not unusual. Despite the clarification, environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts remain unconvinced.

“Reports of the horns of over 50 deer lying in the forest indicate various possibilities because no one will believe that hunting has completely stopped in Bhitarkanika. Regardless of what the forest department says, the presence of such a large number of antlers in one place is unusual. These could have been stored in a museum, or at least the forest department would have shared some information about them earlier,” an environmentalist alleged.

The incident has prompted calls for heightened vigilance and a thorough investigation. Conservation groups have urged the Forest Department to examine whether illegal hunting or wildlife trafficking networks may be operating in the region.

Authorities are expected to increase patrolling and verify if any poaching activity contributed to the discovery.