Blackbuck

Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), locally known as Krishnasar are the sole extant member of the genus Antilope. Blackbucks were formerly widespread across almost whole of the Indian subcontinent but due to excessive hunting and reduced habitat range during last 100 years, blackbucks are now limited to only small, scattered herds in Nepal, India and Pakistan. The species are primary grazers, active during the day and inhabit open grasslands, thinly forested areas as well as agricultural margins. In Nepal, blackbucks were almost extinct until a small herd of nine blackbucks were discovered in Khairapur of Bardia district in 1975 which initiated their conservation efforts. To ensure the survival of this population, in 2009 the Government of Nepal declared an area of 172 ha as Blackbuck Conservation Area (Krishnasar Conservation Area) in Khairapur of Bardia district. Today, conservation efforts have helped the blackbuck population to rebound, growing to 293 and standing as the northernmost surviving herd of blackbucks in the world. NTNC through its Suklaphanta Conservation Progamme supports the government's effort in the reintroduction of blackbucks. The first reintroduction of 28 captive blackbucks in Suklaphanta National Park have resulted in a population of 70 individuals in the wild. The program continues to manage reintroductions of blackbucks and support the government's plan to expand the current reintroduction site to 100 ha aimed at providing adequate foraging and breeding grounds for the reintroduction blackbucks.