A spotted deer was safely rescued after falling into the Mithi River and later spotted near Powai. The Forest Department, SGNP Rapid Rescue Team, NGO WWA, and volunteers coordinated the two-day operation. The deer, found uninjured but exhausted, was tranquilized, examined, and safely released back into its natural habitat near Vihar Lake.
Forest officials and WWA NGO tranquillizing the deer
The deer that had fallen into the Mithi river a couple of days back was tranquilised and rescued from an under-construction site near Powai on Wednesday.
Earlier on September 9, 2025, NGO WWA received a call regarding a deer in need of urgent rescue. As soon as the NGO got the information about the deer falling into the Mithi River, they passed on the information to the forest department.
The forest department immediately rushed to the spot along with the WWA team. After reaching the spot, they discovered that the deer was stuck at a construction site near the Mithi River. NGO WWA, while addressing the incident, said that, “We all together, along with local volunteers, made a way and drove out of the site for the deer to escape safely. Once the deer was in the green corridor, our team ensured its safe return near Vihar Lake, its natural habitat.”
However, later on September 10, 2025, the team received a call from Powai Police Station informing them about a deer sighting near an IT exam centre close to Powai. The WWA team, along with the SGNP Rapid Rescue Team and the Forest Department, rushed to the spot. Soon after arriving at the spot, they found that the deer was in an abandoned plot overgrown with tall vegetation adjacent to a construction site.
Considering the risk of the animal injuring itself, it was necessary to conduct the rescue of the deer immediately.
With the expertise of Dr Jangle, the head veterinarian of SGNP, the deer was tranquilised safely and rescued without delay with strategic planning and seamless coordination of all the teams.
The animal was identified as an adult spotted deer (chital). A medical examination also confirmed that it was not injured, though slightly exhausted after being on the run for two days. Once declared fit, the deer was released back into the wild.
"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the teams involved for their timely support and teamwork in making this rescue a success. A call like this is a reminder of the critical role each of us plays in safeguarding our urban wildlife and the importance of swift, collective action to ensure their safety and well-being," a statement from WWA stated.
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