📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Himanshu Vyas
Science
Blackbucks Set to Reappear in Chhattisgarh’s Gomarda Sanctuary After 50 Years
✍️ Adda247
🗓 08 Nov 2026, 04:17 AM
👁 11
The Chhattisgarh forest department plans to reintroduce blackbucks to Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary, a species absent from the area for five decades.
The state forest department announced that blackbucks will be reintroduced to Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh, marking the species' return after a 50‑year absence. The move follows a long‑term conservation strategy aimed at restoring native grassland fauna that once thrived in the region.
Officials have identified a healthy donor population from nearby protected areas and are preparing soft‑release enclosures within the sanctuary’s grassland patches. Habitat improvements, such as controlled grazing and removal of invasive shrubs, are being undertaken to ensure suitable feeding grounds for the antelopes.
The reintroduction is expected to bolster biodiversity, improve ecological balance, and provide a focal point for eco‑tourism. Monitoring teams will track the animals using GPS collars and periodic field surveys to assess adaptation and survival rates.
Forest officials emphasized that the project aligns with national wildlife‑conservation goals and will be reviewed annually to address any emerging challenges.
Officials have identified a healthy donor population from nearby protected areas and are preparing soft‑release enclosures within the sanctuary’s grassland patches. Habitat improvements, such as controlled grazing and removal of invasive shrubs, are being undertaken to ensure suitable feeding grounds for the antelopes.
The reintroduction is expected to bolster biodiversity, improve ecological balance, and provide a focal point for eco‑tourism. Monitoring teams will track the animals using GPS collars and periodic field surveys to assess adaptation and survival rates.
Forest officials emphasized that the project aligns with national wildlife‑conservation goals and will be reviewed annually to address any emerging challenges.