Black bucks graze in a riverine area in Buxar. Picture by Alok Kumar

Flood, government apathy and alleged poaching of deer and black buck in the district have posed a serious threat to their population.

At a time when the district administration is struggling to save human lives in the aftermath of the deluge, the condition of these herbivores is worrisome.

Found in plenty in the riverine areas, these species have been falling prey to either the vagaries of nature or human greed.

The villagers, however, have been doing their bit to save the species. Many animals managed to escape the flood by moving to higher ground.

Writer and social activist Murli Manohar Srivastava said: “The state government is guilty of not protecting the animals. Earlier, the government had announced a safe zone to be built in two villages of Itarhi and Chakki blocks. However, the plan did not materialise. Poaching, too, is rampant in the area. However, a case at Buxar Town police station against a popular businessman in this regard is yet to be taken up.”

Villagers, too, said some reputed persons in the district take part in poaching activities and added that the district administration had issued warnings to them.

Nand Kumar, a resident of Chakki, said: “We are cut off from the district or the sub-divisional headquarters, as our village has been inundated. When human beings are overlooked during flood, who would save these endangered species? The district magistrate visited the area and saw deer and black bucks dying. He ordered officials to shift the animals to safer places. The state government had announced the construction of a protected place for the animals but nothing has been done.”

District magistrate Vinod Singh Gunjiyal said: “There are around 3,000 deer and black bucks in the catchment area of the district. They face a struggle for existence. The residents rescued some of the animals but many were washed away. I had directed the district forest officer in this regard but nothing has been done as yet.”

He added: “There was a large number of these species in the district not only in the riverine areas but also in Rajpur, Dumraon and adjoining villages of Kaimur district.”