Patna, July 8: Wildlife enthusiasts in the state will not have to travel to Rajasthan and Haryana anymore to spot blackbucks. There are talks to promote two villages in Buxar district, where blackbucks were sighted recently, as wildlife tourism destinations.

The idea of a wildlife tourism package first mooted when a team of wildlife experts and state government officials visited Chunnilal and Hakimpur villages in Buxar district, around 135km west of Patna, last month. The team sighted 88 blackbucks, 14 blackbuck calves and 99 blue bulls in the fields in the villages.

According to sources in state tourism department, there are talks to develop one-night and two-day wildlife packages. The cost of the tour will be around Rs 5,000 per person.

The package would include journey from Patna to Buxar, food and lodging at Vishwa Mitra Vihar in Buxar and sightseeing tours by tourism officials.

Adventure buffs in the state capital are upbeat with this proposed tourism package. “I always wanted to go on a wildlife tour but it never materialised for some reason or the other. Now, I will have a chance to fulfil my wish. I would be one of the first people to go for this tour,” said Anish Prakash, a resident of Patna.

Authentic information on the presence of the endangered blackbucks in Bihar first came to light in a book, Back to Wall, by late SP Shahi. The book contains both pictorial and descriptive documentation of the presence of blackbucks in Bihar. Shahi headed the state forest department from 1956 to 1969.

At present, the blackbucks in Buxar are dependent on the crop fields of local farmers and vegetation along the roads for survival. These endangered animals, however, have to travel around 15km for drinking water during summer months when the local water sources dry up.

Sources added that the presence of 14 blackbuck calves indicates minimal poaching in the area and a favourable condition for the reproduction and habitation of blackbucks.