In 3 yrs, blackbuck numbers fall by 71%

The Times of India , Friday, September 02, 2016
Correspondent : TNN
BAREILLY: In an alarmingly steep fall in the population of a protected species, blackbuck numbers in Bareilly district have fallen by more than 71%, from 578 in 2013 to just 171 in 2016. While experts allege poaching to be the main reason behind the decimation of blackbuck numbers, forest officials have come up with an innovative explanation — that the deer migrated to neighbouring areas and, therefore, few were sighted.

The survey conducted by forest department in 2016 revealed that there are 171 blackbuck in the district.This is much less than the last survey done in 2013 when the population of blackbuck was 578. Giving reason behind the sharp decline in numbers of antelope, Dheeraj Pathak, who is rescue chief of People For Animals (PFA), said, "There has been a drastic decrease in number of blackbuck in the district because of poaching. Blackbuck are being killed on the outskirts of the city by poachers but forest officials have failed to take action against it." He added that though forest officials claim that the blackbuck were attacked by dogs, in reality, the dogs lack courage to attack them as these deer run faster than the canines.

A farmer at Tigra village, Anil Sawhney and wildlife enthusiast said, "There are many villages in the district where residents kill blackbuck and eat it."

Sawhney added, "Nearly four years ago, a herd of blackbuck were a common sight on Pilibhit road and near Dohna power house on Nainital road. However, we went to these stretches a fortnight ago, but failed to locate a single blackbuck after spending an entire day at these spots."

An expert, who did not wish to be named, said poaching is the main cause for their dwindling numbers but urbanisation has caused their habitat to shrink. At one time, blackbuck could easily spotted on the outskirts of the city.

When asked about the reason behind the fall in numbers of blackbuck over the past three years, divisional forest officer Dharam Singh said, "As the survey is conducted for a day, there are chances that blackbuck may have gone to neighbouring districts. The blackbuck may not be visible at a particular time when the survey was being done. Besides, the survey was conducted in June, the animals go near water bodies due to heat and hence, they were unlikely to be spotted during the survey."

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/In-3-yrs-blackbuck-numbers-fall-by-71/articleshow/53968514.cms
 


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