Blackbucks at Bardiya Conservation Area

Rajesh Dhungana

Gulariya Municipality and its ward numbers 1,2, 3 and 4 are known for the sustainable protection of blackbucks, rare wild animals in their natural state. Krishnasar area, a blackbuck conservation area, is located in the Khairapur area, which is five kilometres west of Gulariya.

Krishnasar lies at a distance of 557 km from Kathmandu to the west through the east-west highway. Part of the area covering 16.95 sq. km was declared as Blackbuck (Krishnasar) conservation area by the government dated Chaitra 3, 2065BS. Since then, the office was established in the year 2067 BS and the conservation and management works of rare animals have been conducted with the support and coordination of stakeholders, associations and residents. Before this, this area was under Bardia National Park.

Medium Size

Blackbuck is a medium-sized species of wild animal found in the Indian subcontinent. It is known by different names in different languages. In English it is called blackbuck, in Hindi the male is called kala and the female is Goriya and in Vedic books, the male is called Harni in Sanskrit.

The sub-order Ruminantia under Blackbuck also includes several Cervidae and Bovidae families. 6 deer species found in Nepal belong to the Cervidae Family. Blackbuck belongs to the Antelopinae Sub-Family under the Bovidae Family.

Krishnasar (Blackbuck) is a wild animal of the Antelope species. Males and females of this animal can be easily distinguished. The back of the male Blackbuck is black and the belly is white.

The body of the female is brown on both sides and white on the belly. The male blackbuck has 2 very artistic curved horns which are 21 to inches long. Females and cubs have a light yellow colour on their backs and heads but do not have horns. Both males and females have white rings around their eyes and their beaks are also white.

The physical structure of a Blackbuck is a body length of 100 to 150 cm, a shoulder height of 73 to 83 cm, a tail length of 10 to 17 cm, a male weight of 35 to 45 kg and a female weight of 31 to 39 kg. The gestation period of this animal is 6 months. The female is slightly smaller in size than the male. Due to being scattered in different types of geography and habitats, the physical structure of Blackbucks in one place differs from Blackbucks in other places.

Mungoll (1978) classified Blackbuck into four subspecies based on skin colour, horn length and shape: 1. Antelope Cervicapra Cervicapra (in South India) 2. Antelope Cervicapra Centralis (in Central India 3. Antelope Cervicapra Rupicapra (Nepal and Northern India) 4. Antelope Cervicapra Rajputani (in North West India and Pakistan) Antelope Cervicapra Rajputani (in North West India and Pakistan) belongs to the Blackbuck Antelope Cervicapra Rupicapra subspecies in the Krishnasar Conservation Area of Nepal. It gives birth only once a year.

The reproduction of this animal mainly takes place from February to April. Newborn females are fertile at 2 to 2.5 years of age. In this region, Blackbucks have a high mortality rate within 1 to 2 months of giving birth. Blackbucks lack the sense of smell or hearing, but they have good eyesight, which enables them to detect any danger and react in time.

Active During Day

Blackbuck is mainly active during the day. It forms three types of small groups, female, male and adult herds. Males often use leaking as a strategy to attract females for mating. While other males are not allowed in these areas.

Females often visit these places to graze. This way the males can try to mate with her. Blackbuck is a native and is found mainly in India and Nepal, while locally extinct in Pakistan and Bangladesh. These animals are largely confined to protected areas. In the 20th century, due to overhunting, deforestation and habitat loss, the number of blackbucks declined sharply. Blackbuck has been brought to Argentina and America.

Due to the importance of Krishna in Hinduism, Indian and Nepalese villagers do not harm. A 1997 study found less variation in blood protein polymorphisms in antelopes than in antidorcas, eudorcas, and gazelles. This was attributed to Antibop's history of the rapid evolution of the atoponophynic phenotype. This behaviour may have been aided by a particularly strong selection of some dominant males.

According to Binay Kumar Jha, conservation officer of Krishnasar (Blackbuck) conservation area Khairapur, during the financial year 2078/079, the conservation and habitat management work as per the annual programme approved by this office and the works of Krishnasar (Blackbuck) received from supporting organisations were completed. There are 182 blackbucks in this conservation area.

To manage and influence the Blackbuck area, a total of 86 consumers consisting of 43 female consumer groups and 43 male consumer groups from the locals living in this area to carry out community development activities following the National Wildlife Protection Act 2029, Fourth Amendment 2049 and Conservation Area Government Management Regulations, 2057 A group has been formed.

These 86 groups are represented in the Blackbuck Conservation Area Management Council with 4 consumer committees as chairpersons and 2 women members, which is the highest community body of the Blackbuck conservation area the conservation officer also said that he will act as the member secretary of this council.

Also, since Nepal is a party to international conventions, treaties and agreements related to biological diversity, it has been playing a significant role in the field of biological diversity protection. The provisions of these treaty agreements are important in policy-making in Nepal's biodiversity conservation sector.

Keeping in view the international environment, the activities of the protected areas are directed to achieve the policies, programmes and objectives tailored to the specific situation of Nepal.

Blackbuck is an animal that lives in open grasslands. Commonly inhabits the plains in groups of 20 to 25 numbers led by a single male. This animal likes grasslands because it is a very fast runner. Its speed is recorded at 80 kmph. This animal's voice is small and shrill, unable to make a loud cry, and once separated from the group, it cannot return. As this animal is very scared and nervous, it dies from even a small accident.

At the beginning of its breeding season, the males will fight among themselves and the winning male will have 40 to 50 females under his control. A female can have only one child at a time. The average lifespan is up to 12 years. Age records are also done up to 16 years.

A characteristic of this animal's baby is that even the newborn starts walking within 30 minutes after feeding. In a day a child drinks milk up to 6 times. After feeding, it hides in tall grass for about the first month. Even during the night, the baby stays away from the mother.

In addition, flowers, fruits and pods are eaten as supplementary food. Sometimes the leaves of small wort plants like Bayer, dude lahara, Kimbu, khakis, and lundeka (Nepalese Plant) are also eaten.

It prefers to graze in open grasslands and close to livestock. It prefers dubo, bamboo, banso, kuro and other grasses. Also likes regrowth of grass and new shoots after a fire. Blackbuck chews grass while standing. Chews 3 times every 2 seconds when angry. A small amount of drinking water is enough for the animals.

Gradual Rise

In Nepal, the number of blackbucks was 9 in the beginning and currently, there are 182 in number. Even though it has been increasing numerically, this number has expanded from the same population.

From a scientific point of view, this condition can lead to chronic problems. Therefore, it will be good for both areas if we can make contact between Blackbuck, which is limited to one area, and Blackbuck, which is in the Arco region, and if Nepal can share some Blackbuck with neighbouring countries, it will be good for the long-term protection of the Blackbuck here, says Binay Kumar Jha, the conservation officer of the Blackbuck conservation area.

According to annual records, there are 177 cases gradually increasing from 2032 to 2046 BS. Then the number remained stable at 177 for 3 years from 2046 to 2048. Then the decrease starts from the year 2049 and this trend continues till the year 2056. The number decreased to 50 in 2056. Then it continued to grow.

Blackbuck is a species of animal from the Indian subcontinent. It once ranged over a large area except for the northeastern part of India. Presently Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat, Found in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Until 1960s, this rare animal was found from the eastern to western Terai of Nepal.

Now, its natural habitat is restricted to Khairapur in the Bardiya district. The area was declared a Blackbuck Protected Area in 2009. After conservation, the number of blackbucks in Nepal is increasing.

(Dhungana is a senior wildlife photographer and writer)

TRN Online

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