Indian antelope are protected under the same rights as tigers and elephants.
Bangalore:
Wildlife activists have said that over 300 endangered blackbucks roaming six villages in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district are under threat from poachers, highway traffic and electric fences.
They say that blackbucks have been seen roaming in herds in Indi taluk.
Wildlife activist Dhruv Patil has approached the forest department to save them.
“These blackbucks are roaming freely in the highway areas. These beautiful animals can be victims of poaching,” he said.
He said that he was assured by forest officials to buy land from the gram panchayat and private parties to build a community reserve in that area as there is no forest in Vijayapura.
A forest official told NDTV, “The exact count of blackbucks is not available. Their census has not been done. Efforts are on to create a community reserve at the earliest.”
It is believed that the blackbucks come from a group that was kept in the premises of an old temple a few years back.
About six years ago, the temple authorities decided to release them as it is illegal to keep the animals. In the past few years, their numbers have crossed 300, say activists.
The Forest Department is monitoring their activities. People have not harmed them till now as these black bucks are believed to be the deity of Lord Siddheshwar. Most of them live deep inside the villages.
The forest department cannot take them to any reserve or sanctuary as they are highly vulnerable animals and may die during the transfer.
Therefore, efforts are being made to create a community reserve as soon as possible.
Indian antelope are protected under the same rights as tigers and elephants under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.