A deer was found dead on the campus of the University of Hyderabad on Thursday, with activists suspecting that the animal may have been shot. Security guards came across the carcass at the Shooting Range on campus run by the Sports Authority of Telangana State (SATS) and informed the relevant authorities.

Activists posted photographs of a round hole in the animal’s body, that looked like a bullet wound, suggesting that the deer may have been shot by poachers.

“There are two injuries on the carcass which clearly depict gunshot wounds. It is a clear case of poaching,” Ravi Jillapalli, a student on campus and a wildlife activist told a media outlet.

He also added that such cases had taken place earlier as well, as SATS is located in an isolated area on campus.

Following this, officials of the Forest Department arrived at the spot to take the carcass for a post mortem. They later said that the death may not have been due to a bullet wound as the main cause of death was stated to be ‘hemorrhagic shock’ in the autopsy report, suggesting that the animal may have been attacked by stray dogs on campus.

"The deer panicked when the dogs attacked and ran for its life but got entangled in a fence. There were clear signs of the dog attacks on the body. The antlers of the male deer might have accidentally pierced its own body, which explains the round-shaped wound,” Forest Ranger Office, Chilkur, A Chiranjeevi, was quoted as saying.

The deer’s death on campus is the latest in a spate of incidents as several deers have died over the last few years either due to alleged poaching, or in attacks by wild dogs that are present on campus. The hunting and poaching of wild animals including the spotted deer, is punishable under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 with imprisonment up to three years and fine up to Rs 25,000.