Shajapur: Chased by Stray Dog, 13 Blackbucks Die After Falling Into Open Well

Thirteen blackbucks died after falling into an open agricultural well while trying to flee from a stray dog in Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur district. Local forest officials launched a formal investigation into the incident on Wednesday after retrieving the carcasses of the protected antelopes, along with the body of the dog, from the well.

The incident occurred in the Khardaunkalan area and came to light when the owner of a nearby agricultural field noticed a foul smell coming from the well and alerted local authorities. Upon arriving at the scene, Forest Department officials recovered the remains of four male and nine female blackbucks. Preliminary findings indicate that the herd panicked while being pursued by the dog, leading to the fatal fall. Dog Attack in Dombivli: 7-Year-Old Girl Attacked by Pack of Stray Dogs in Palava City Near Mumbai.

"A dog was chasing a herd of blackbucks," said Shajapur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Hemlata Shah. "While trying to escape, the blackbucks fell into a well, and the dog also fell into it. We recovered all of them, conducted post-mortem examinations, and collected samples, which are currently being analyzed."

DFO Shah noted that prima facie (at first sight) evidence heavily points to the chase as the cause of the panic, but emphasized that a definitive cause of death will only be confirmed once the full inquiry is complete. Pune Dog Attack: Minor Narrowly Escapes After Being Chased Inside Housing Society in Maharashtra’s Kirkatwadi (Watch Video).

Probe Launched Into Blackbucks’ Tragic Deaths

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh: 13 blackbucks died after falling into a well while being chased by a dog in Shajapur.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Hemlata Shah says, "A dog was chasing a herd of blackbucks. While running away from the dog, the blackbucks fell into a well. The dog… pic.twitter.com/ifuR5fbmzt

— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2026

The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is an antelope native to India and is classified as a protected species under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, granting it the highest level of legal protection in the country. Open, uncovered wells in rural areas adjacent to wildlife habitats have frequently been cited by conservationists as a persistent hazard for local fauna.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 09, 2026 09:19 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).