Raipur, March 5 (IANS) Two sambars and a deer were found dead at Maitri Bagh zoo in Chhattisgarh, an official said Friday.

The zoo, located about 30 km west of state capital Raipur, is managed by Bhilai Steel Plant, one of the largest public sector unit of the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL).

'One sambar died Thursday night while another sambar and a deer were found dead in their enclosure Friday,' T.S. Chhatri, assistant general manager in Bhilai Steel Plant's horticulture department told IANS over phone.

He ruled out any possibility of foul play and said the deaths were natural. The zoo now has 20 sambars and around 90 deer.

Chhatri said that the Maitri Bagh zoo has been banned by the Central Zoo Authority for breeding of animals as it has less space compared to number of animals it has been housing.

Sambar is the common name for Cervus unicolor, a dark brown and maned deer. A male sambar has sharp horns.