Chhattisgarh Revives Blackbuck Population After 50-Year Absence

In 2025, Chhattisgarh's efforts to revive the blackbuck population have paid off. Just seven years ago, the state had declared the graceful antelope locally extinct, with the population decimated by poaching, habitat loss, and human encroachment. However, the Chhattisgarh government launched an ambitious five-year reintroduction plan in 2018, and the results have been remarkable.

Through the plan, the state's Forest Department has successfully reintroduced the blackbuck back into the Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary. Over the past five years, they have translocated 77 blackbucks - 50 from the National Zoological Park in New Delhi and 27 from the Kanan Pendari Zoological Garden in Bilaspur. This conservation effort has borne fruit, with the sanctuary now boasting a thriving population of 190 blackbucks.

The revival of the blackbuck in Chhattisgarh is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the state's wildlife officials. After the initial challenges, including a pneumonia outbreak that claimed eight animals, the department took measures to ensure the success of the reintroduction program. This included improving the enclosures, promoting suitable grassland habitats, and implementing strict anti-poaching measures. The sight of the graceful blackbucks, with their deep black coats and striking horns, once again roaming the open meadows of Chhattisgarh is a heartening conservation success story.