Blackbuck revival in Balukhand suffers setback as infections, dog bite claim nine

DEATH of nine blackbucks, including two fawns, in Balukhand-Konark wildlife sanctuary in the last three months has come as a setback for the species revival programme of the Forest department.

- Raj Kumar Mohanty/Sudarsan Maharana @Puri/Bhubaneswar

The department had released 29 blackbucks in multiple phases over the last seven months as part of the reintroduction programme. However, suspected pneumonia, unknown infections and even dog bite have claimed nine of these endangered species.

The Balukhand-Konark wildlife sanctuary, spread over 87 sq km, once held a decent blackbuck population which was wiped out in 2012 primarily due to habitat loss, natural calamities and growing construction activities in the region.

When the species revival programme was planned, the department brought 25 individuals from Nandankanan Zoo and four from Ghumsur forests and released them in Balukhand-Golara forests located on the sea side of the Puri-Konark marine drive road.