Bodies of at least seven spotted deer including two horned male species had been sighted by ground-level staffs between 13 to 21 September, official sources said. Initially, it was feared that the species might have been killed by poachers who could not carry their prize because of stepped up patrolling. However, there were neither external injuries nor strangulation marks as mostly seen in poaching victims. After preliminary investigation by forest officials along with veterinary surgeons, the death was attributed to some form of animal disease. — SNS