BHUBANESWAR: The endangered blackbucks, one of the success stories of community-backed conservation in Odisha, are falling to road kills. A quarter of the deaths reported in the last five years is caused by road mishaps alone.
The population of these antelopes have increased exponentially over the years and that is a good news but the worrying factor is the equally growing linear infrastructure through the pockets they inhabit. With more and more road infrastructure planned, the beautiful mammals may have a tough road ahead.
According to statistics available with Wildlife Wing of Odisha Government, 88 blackbucks died between 2012 and 2017. Of them, 22 were killed in road mishaps. Another 27 died of “other accidents” while poaching claimed four.
The Balipadar-Bhetnoi cluster in Ganjam district is the main habitat of these antelopes where the local community has been instrumental in safeguarding the blackbucks and their efforts have shown in the growing numbers. From 2,181, the population of the blackbucks grew to 3,806 in 2014-15 census. Ghumsur South Division holds these antelopes in maximum numbers.
“Blackbucks are fast moving animals and are confused by headlights in the night. Look at the expansion of road network in these pockets, not just the rural and district roads but also the state and national highways. The Bhanjanagar-Berhampur route has emerged as the busiest road in this part of the State and there is no speed regulation,” said a senior Forest Department officer. Besides, there is a growing tendency to chase and stalk these animals among the passersby out of curiosity.
Ganjam district, the political seat of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has seen rise in road infrastructure in the last one decade. The length of national highways is over 200 km while state highway measures over 550 km besides 2,226 km of rural roads. With more and more connectivity schemes coming in from both the State and the Centre, the road network is slated to rise.
While the roads have been rising, the population of the blackbucks is spreading to newer pockets. They are colonising new areas. From Ganjam, they have moved to neighbouring Nayagarh district in search of fodder and habitation.
“Speed regulation of vehicles plying through blackbuck habitats and diversion of major traffic through alternate routes, especially commercial traffic, should be initiated. The Government should take a policy decision not to widen existing roads while adding speed-breakers,” says wildlife conservationist Aditya Panda.
Adequate signage and setting up a rescue and rehabilitation centre are also measures many officers of the Forest Department advocate.The uncontrolled population of blackbucks is a worry which calls for dedicated protection measures because eventually the mammals will spread out in search of food and habitat.
Insiders suggest that the State Government could accord either a conservation reserve or a community reserve status to the habitats because a protected area tag would help the cause. “Community reserve status is the ideal way to go forward given the status of land ownership and efforts by the local population,” said another officer.
The Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary, the other habitat where the blackbucks existed, no more holds these mammals anymore. From 34 in 2010, their number dropped to zero in the last census indicating how badly the habitat was managed.In India, there are 73 conservation reserves in 10 States and 45 community reserves in five States. None exists in Odisha. The Balipadar-Bhentnoi cluster could be the starting point.