Wild gaurs in the Munnar-Marayur area are falling victims to the vagaries of nature.

The recent deaths of a number of them, especially in the peripheral areas of forests, were stated to be directly caused by a disease that spread fast — an after-effect of unusually heavy rainfall and mist.

The rain shadow area went under a sudden change in weather conditions of late with consecutive days of heavy rain and mists. It not only destroyed vegetable cultivation there but also badly hit the wildlife, said a senior official of the Forest Department on Tuesday.

Medical tests have confirmed that the extreme weather conditions have adversely affected the wild gaurs.

Laboratory tests conducted at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU), Pookot, in Wayanad have confirmed that the unnatural deaths were due to haemorrhagic septicaemia, a bacterial disease that is linked to the weather conditions.

Arun Zacharia of CVASU, who conducted the tests, told The Hindu that it was directly linked to the vagaries of nature. It is a respiratory infection that results in sudden death and could spread to other animals.

Animals in the peripheral areas are more sensitive to the disease than those in the core areas.

The official says there is a considerable increase in the number of wild gaurs in the forests and so they come to the peripheral areas in search of food and water.

Unconfirmed reports say that nearly 20 wild gaurs have been found dead during the past six months with the last one at Kappistore in Marayur a few days back.

Most of the deaths have been reported in the Marayur sandalwood reserve, Chinnar wildlife sanctuary, and on private tea estates of Thalayar and Kanan Devan.