RAIPUR – In a major conservation success, the blackbuck a medium-sized antelope declared locally extinct in Chhattisgarh in the 1970s has made a remarkable return to the state’s forests.
Officials at the Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary in Balodabazar district successfully implemented a five-year reintroduction plan, which began in 2018. The sanctuary, which once saw the graceful animal vanish due to poaching, habitat loss, and human encroachment, now boasts a growing population of 190 blackbucks.
The Revival Plan and Translocation
The decline of the blackbuck, an endangered species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, was driven by rampant poaching and the destruction of its open grassland habitat. In 2017, the species was officially declared locally extinct in Chhattisgarh.
• The 2021-2026 revival plan was initiated by the Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board following a meeting in 2018.
• Seventy-seven blackbucks were translocated to the sanctuary: 50 from the National Zoological Park in New Delhi and 27 from the Kanan Pendari Zoological Garden, Bilaspur.
• The animals were initially kept in specialized enclosures for up to two years before being released into the wild. To date, 100 animals have been released, with 90 remaining in enclosures awaiting release.
Overcoming Challenges and Habitat Management
The project faced setbacks, including the tragic loss of eight blackbucks in the first two years due to a pneumonia outbreak.
In response, the Forest Department instituted dedicated conservation measures:
• Disease Prevention: Short-term measures included sand-layering enclosures for dryness, improving drainage, and appointing an on-call veterinary doctor.
• Habitat Restoration: Long-term efforts focused on Rampur grasslands, promoting palatable grass species, and removing invasive weeds.
• Anti-Poaching: Continuous monitoring was established through patrolling camps, the installation of cameras for real-time tracking, and the construction of watchtowers to combat poachers.
Dhammsheel Ganveer, the Balodabazar Divisional Forest Officer, stated that the sight of the males, with their deep black coats and striking horns, has been restored through the “dedication, hard work and constant vigilance” of the sanctuary team.
Following the success at Barnawapara, the Forest Department is now developing plans to replicate the conservation model at other open grassland habitats in the state, including the Gomardha Wildlife Sanctuary.