Bhubaneswar: To conserve wildlife, 13 blackbucks have been relocated from the Nandankanan Zoological Park to the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha. The translocation is part of an ongoing initiative aimed at increasing the blackbuck population and ensuring the survival of this endangered species in their natural habitat.
The blackbucks were transported overnight in specially designed vehicles and housed in a 30-hectare enclosure within the Kurujang IDC area of the Konark forest range. Special arrangements have been made to provide them with adequate food and water during the acclimatization phase.
Earlier, on June 18, a group of 10 blackbucks — 6 females and 4 males — were also relocated to the sanctuary. These blackbucks are currently under quarantine, and their health is being closely monitored. Wildlife experts are keeping a daily check on their condition to ensure they adjust to the new environment. Once they are deemed fit, they will be released to roam freely within the sanctuary.
The Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary, located just 10 kilometers from Puri, is a favorable habitat for blackbucks, with its sandy terrain, casuarina groves, and cashew plantations. The sanctuary’s unique ecosystem offers the perfect setting for the animals to thrive and contribute to the region’s biodiversity.
This relocation effort is part of a broader conservation strategy by the Odisha government to protect the blackbuck population, which faced significant decline after the 1999 super cyclone. By translocating blackbucks to protected areas like Balukhand, the state aims to safeguard the species and promote their recovery in the wild.