Puri, Nov 18: A five-year-old male spotted deer that was rescued by the Odisha forest department in Puri district now has become friends with local shopkeepers. Named as Ram by locals, the deer is not returning back to forest.
Odisha forest department personnel had rescued a spotted deer cub after its mother died in dog attack five years ago near Puri-Konark marine drive.
The deer cub was taken to the animal shelter home of the forest department besides the marine drive. Ram was reared there and started roaming around the Chandrabhaga beach after it became young.
The forest department released Ram in the Balukhand sanctuary for its safety. However, the deer found it difficult to become friends with other deers and returned back to the animal shelter home. The forest personnel did not accept Ram and further released in the wild. Later, the young deer started roaming near the Toshali Square and got rid of dogs using fully grown horns. The local shopkeepers adopted Ram and took his care. Now the animal’s food habit has also changed. The spotted deer is now eating biscuits, fruits and other local make fries given by tourists and shopkeepers.
Ram has turned a close friend of nearby shopkeepers and tourists are halting there to take selfie with the cute animal.
