Blackbucks, which are losing their habitat for development and facing the threat of poachers, have found new pastures in the grasslands of Tiptur taluk.
The habitat at Bidirammanagudi seems to be suitable for blackbucks as they have bred more offsprings here. Their number which was 200 two years ago is close to 350 now.
The Animal Husbandry Department’s research centre for the indigenous breed of ‘Amrit Mahal Kaval’ cattle and also the Agriculture Research Centre at Konehalli are spread across 300 acres of grassland.
Including this, an area of 1,500 acres forming a triangle of forests bordering Arasikere in Hassan district and Halumalledevara Kaval of Chikkanayakanahalli taluk in Tumkur district has become the habitat for blackbucks.
Apart from the blackbucks, the area, with almost round-the-year green grasslands and a variety of trees, has been a habitat for different birds and also animals.
The area under Krishna basin has sufficient water resources as the tanks and the small rivulets are not affected by the development activities. However, the blackbucks are facing threat from the poachers — both ignorant ones and those who deliberately get into the act.
Six months ago, a poacher had shot dead a black buck and managed to escape, but the ignorant farmers were caught while removing its skin and trying to use the meat as food. An official told Express that the poachers come from Sakaleshpur area, who ‘misguide’ the foreigners from Hassan, on their trip to Belur and Halebeed, for a night safari kind of facility and involve them in poaching.
Demand for a Conservation Reserve
Assistant Conservator of Forests Magadaiah said that he has prepared a proposal to get the area declared as the conservation reserve for the blackbucks.
A team of local environmentalists of Maithreya Balaga, including Srikanth, Manohar, Muralidhar Gungurumele and Raitha Sangha leader Devaraju, have been demanding that the area be declared as ‘National Grassland and Black Buck Conservation Reserve’.
Environmentalist of Wildlife Aware Nature Club T V N Murthy said, “The area deserves to be given such a tag as it is a good habitat for the survival of blackbucks in terms of availability of natural facilities.”