Blackbuck faces extinction

Rajamahendravaram: The state animal 'blackbuck' (antelope cervicarpa) was under threat of extinction in Andhra Pradesh and the survival of the beautiful animal is at stake for various reasons.

A decade ago, hundreds of blackbucks were seen in the islands of Gowthami and Godavari rivers at Ravulapalem and in the paddy fields in Rajanagaram, Peddapuram, Jaggampet and other villages in the district. The animals move in herds and sometimes, they used to come into villages also.

Apathy of officials of the Forest department, destruction of habitats, human intervention, illegal mining, cutting of grass in islands, hunting, etc are the main reasons for the decline of the population of the blackbucks. The beautiful blackbuck makes an eye-feast to gazers when it passes through the bridge on river Godavari between Ravulapalem and Jonnada. The blackbucks stayed in the bushes because of available of perennial river water and grossy islands.

Speaking to The Hans India, associate professor of Zoology PV Krishna Bharathi said the number of blackbucks had come down to two-digit number in the district. During 1996 Godavari floods, hundreds of blackbucks were washed away and some of them stayed in the nearby villages and many of them were disappeared.

The blackbucks help maintain the ecological balance by keeping forest ecosystem intact. There is urgent need to conserve the state animal through a census of the animal, feel the experts.