Udhampur, March 15 -- In a coordinated wildlife rescue operation, the Department of Wildlife Protection successfully saved an injured Sambar deer from Kawa village in the Udhampur district on Sunday.

The massive animal, weighing over 120 kg, was first spotted by residents hiding in thick bushes, who immediately alerted the authorities.

A specialised team from the Wildlife Department rushed to the scene and, following a gruelling three-to-four-hour rescue effort supported by a large number of villagers, managed to safely capture the distressed deer.

After receiving initial first-aid treatment at Tandey Rakh Park, the deer was dispatched to Manda Zoo in Jammu for advanced medical care and rehabilitation.

Narotam Sharma, Incharge of the ...