Blackbuck

Blackbuck

Subject :Environment

Section: Species in news

Context: The blackbuck population has increased threefold in Odisha’s Ganjam district, the only habitat of the most elegant member of the antelope family in the state, over 12 years.

More on the News:

• Blackbucks were sighted in the Balukhand-Konark wildlife sanctuary in the Puri district through 2012-13; however, they have now vanished from the area.
• Improvement of habitats and protection by the local people and forest staff are some of the reasons behind the increase of the blackbuck population in the district.
• Not a single poaching case has been reported in the last few years in the area.
• Like the Bishnoi tribe community of western Rajasthan and the Vala Rajputs of Saurashtra, the people of Ganjam district in Odisha protect the blackbuck, as its sightings are considered an indicator of good luck.

Blackbuck

• Indian Blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra) is an antelope and is the only living species of the genus Antelope.
• It is considered to be the fastest animal in the world next to Cheetah.
• The blackbuck is a diurnal antelope (active mainly during the day).
• It has been declared as the State Animal of Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Habitat:
  • Blackbuck inhabits grassy plains and slightly forested areas.
  • It is found in Central- Western India (MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Odisha) and Southern India (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu).
• Protection Status:
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
  • IUCN Status: Least Concern
  • CITES: Appendix III
• Conservation:
  • The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is known worldwide for their conservation efforts to blackbuck and Chinkara.