CHAMARAJANAGAR: The sighting of blackbucks in the forests and hilly tracts of Hanur range of Kollegal taluk under Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, where they are usually not found, has enthused forest officials and wildlife conservationists working in the area.
A pair of blackbucks was for the first time caught on camera and documented at Harehalla area of Mambetta Reserve Forest, Hanur falling under the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary by field staff on February 8. The staffers also noticed a herd of about 30 blackbucks in this region.
“There is no earlier information on sighting of blackbucks in this sanctuary,” said Deputy Conservator of Forests, Cauvery Wildlife Division, Kollegal, Ramesh Kumar, adding that usually, blackbucks are found in the plains with large grasslands since they can run faster and escape from predators.
They normally avoid forests and hilly tracts, so finding blackbucks in these hilly tracts is really surprising. The availability of grass for the blackbucks to graze is an indication of the suitability of the habitat, observed Mr Ramesh Kumar.
The presence of blackbucks has lifted the spirits of the forest staff as the prey density would increase.
The area has a good concentration of sambars, spotted deer, barking deer and four-horned antelopes to support predators such as tigers, leopards and wild dogs. According to Mr Ramesh, 12 tigers have been camera trapped in the forests of Cauvery and Malemahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuaries.
The blackbucks would be an additional food source for the predators, the officer said. Assuming that the blackbucks must have come here from Umathoor area, Hanur Forest Range Officer Lokesh adds, “We were told by villagers for some time that a deer type animal with spiral horns was sighted in the forest but we were not sure they were blackbucks until our staff photographed them.”
