Their population at Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctury has doubled in the last one decade
Blackbucks
Hubballi: Blackbucks which are a source of joy to animal lovers, have made life miserable for farmers in Haveri and surrounding districts. Reason: Their population at Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctury has doubled in the last one decade.
Blackbucks are also falling prey to poachers as they are migrating to places outside the sanctuary in search of food. Animal lovers now want the sanctuary area to be increased and distribution of compensation among those who have suffered crop loss due to the straying of black bucks into their fields.
The blackbuck sanctuary is spread over 11,900 hectares in Ranibennur taluk. As per the 2006 census, there were 6,700 blackbucks in the sanctuary which has now increased to 12,000. With the bucks wandering into agricultural fields destroying growing crops, lakhs of rupees in compensation is being paid to farmers every year.
Assistant conservator of forest, Hanumantaraju said a solar fence has been erected around the sanctuary. He said more crops would be grown near the sanctuary to stop animals from straying into farms for food. “We are offering 50 per cent subsidy to farmers to erect solar fences,” he said.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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