Why in news?
Chhattisgarh’s Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary now hosts a thriving population of blackbuck antelopes after they had been locally extinct for around 50 years. A reintroduction programme launched in 2018 has increased their numbers to about 190 animals as of 2025.
Background
The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is a medium‑sized antelope native to the Indian subcontinent. Males sport spiralled horns and a striking dark coat, while females are fawn‑coloured and hornless. Historically abundant across India’s grasslands, blackbuck populations crashed due to poaching, loss of open habitats to agriculture, and uncontrolled hunting. The species is listed in Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and is categorised as Least Concern globally but faces regional declines.
Reintroduction programme
- Translocation: In 2018 the Chhattisgarh Forest Department began a five‑year project to reintroduce blackbucks to Barnawapara. A total of 77 animals were translocated – 50 from the National Zoological Park in Delhi and 27 from the Kanan Pendari Zoo in Bilaspur.
- Habitat management: Open grasslands were restored, predators were managed and local communities were engaged to protect the animals. Supplemental feeding was provided during lean seasons.
- Population growth: By 2025 the population had grown to around 190. Wildlife officials attribute the success to careful monitoring, veterinary care and community awareness campaigns.
Reasons for past decline and challenges
- Poaching and hunting: Blackbuck were once hunted for their meat and horns. They are the state animal of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, and their persecution led to severe declines.
- Habitat fragmentation: Conversion of grasslands into farms and settlements restricted their range and increased human‑wildlife conflict.
- Ongoing threats: Ensuring genetic diversity, preventing inbreeding and maintaining suitable grassland habitat remain critical. Predation by stray dogs and competition with livestock must be managed.
Significance
- Ecological role: Blackbuck graze on grasses, helping maintain open landscapes that support other species. Their presence indicates healthy grassland ecosystems.
- Conservation model: The successful reintroduction demonstrates how ex‑situ breeding and community involvement can revive local extinctions.
- Eco‑tourism: Growing blackbuck herds attract tourists, generating income for local communities and fostering appreciation for grassland wildlife.
Conclusion
The return of blackbuck to Barnawapara offers hope for India’s vanishing grassland species. Continued habitat management, anti‑poaching vigilance and community participation will be essential to ensure that these elegant antelopes flourish for generations to come.
Source: The Indian Express · WWF India