File picture of black bucks in a Ganjam forest

Bhubaneswar, July 15: Conservationists have expressed concern over the death of nine black bucks at Bhetanoi-Balipadara in the Aska forest range of Ganjam district in the past three months.

Members of the Ganjam Black Buck Management Committee have noticed the deaths between May 6 and July 1. The committee is involved in the conservation of the antelope found in some Ganjam pockets.

One animal was killed due to bullet injuries. However, two died in road accidents, one due to dog bite, two while fighting its own breed, and three others died from natural causes.

Committee convener Amulya Upadhaya said: “After the firing incident on May 6, the authorities did not conduct any proper inquiry. There is also no effort to regulate speed of vehicles passing on the road adjoining Bhetanoi-Balipadar.”

A senior forest official, on the other hand, said that being antelopes, the black buck community multiplied faster and most of the deaths could be due to infighting.

The Indian black buck (Antilope cervicapra) is one of the three species of antelopes found in the state. The other two are Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and Chowsingha (Tetracercus quadricornis).

Black buck is considered to be the fastest animal in the world next to Cheetah. Due to its restricted distribution and other threats, it is included in the list of Schedule-I species of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and designated as vulnerable. It is also found in the Puri-Balukhanda Sanctuary.

Principal conservator of forests (wildlife) J.D. Sharma said: “We have ensured that no poaching is taking place at Bhetanoi. Local people are supporting the conservation measures. There are cases of road accidents and infighting among the animals.”

“There was a project in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme to help conserve the black bucks. As a part of it, seven local youths were employed to help treat the injured black bucks. There should be a mechanism to re-introduce such schemes,” said Upadhaya.

“The signage to make the vehicles slow down on the nearby roads is present only on the Aska side. The signage on the other side (Balipadar) will be displayed to enable the animals safely cross the road,” he said.

A local forest official of the Ghumusar south division said: “It is a good sign that people are now more aware on the conservation issue, but they should also understand the biological dynamics. The animals, when they become over saturated, often fight among themselves causing grievous injuries to each other.”