TV
The Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over 87 square miles on the Puri-Konark Marine Drive, welcomed 13 new guests from the Nandankanan Zoological Park. As part of the animal translocation programme, the Odisha government on Wednesday night translocated 13 blackbucks from Nandankanan to the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary.
The blackbucks, popularly known as ‘Krushnasara’, which had gone extinct at the wildlife sanctuary will again be part of it. Located just 10km from Puri, the sanctuary is home to spotted deer and beautifully flaunts sandy beaches, casuarina trees, and cashew plantations.
These blackbucks, also known as Indian antelopes are a rare species that had almost become extinct after the 1999 super cyclone in Odisha. However, the Odisha government is re-introducing the blackbucks to save them from becoming extinct. They will also be translocated from overpopulated Ganjam landscapes.
Earlier on June 18, at least 10 blackbucks, six females, and four males were translocated from the Nandankanan Zoological Park and released in the sanctuary. With another 13 new blackbucks, the sanctuary has a total of 23 blackbucks from Nandankanan.
Currently, the blackbucks have been kept under quarantine and are being provided with proper food and care. Veterinary doctors have been pressed to check their health updates regularly until they are released into the nature.
The forest department is planning to reintroduce more blackbucks that are slowly becoming extinct due to various reasons.
