International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences ISSN: 2455-9571

Volume 3, Issue 1, pp: 71-76, 2018 http://www.ijzab.com

Research Article

NEAR THREATENED TO LEAST CONCERN: BLACKBUCK

CONSERVATION EFFORTS FROM RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Ram Prakash Saran1 and Renu Meena2*

1
Department of Zoology, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342001, India
2
Department of Zoology, Government College, Kota, Kota, Rajasthan-324001, India

Article History: Received 3rd January 2018; Accepted 23rd January 2017; Published 7th February 2018

ABSTRACT
Rajasthan is land where conservation is religion. In many sites peaceful cohabitation between humans and wildlife is
conjoint. The mutual efforts of Forest Department, Rajasthan and local communities for the protection of wildlife lead to
an almost threefold upsurge in blackbuck population in this region. Due to conservation efforts across the country
including Rajasthan have placed blackbuck in the Least Concern category in Red Data Book published by IUCN from
earlier Near Threatened category. In India, blackbuck is distributed across 15 states and in Rajasthan; it is distributed
among 19 districts. The total population of blackbuck in Rajasthan including protected area is estimated to be over thirty
thousand in 2016.

Keywords: Antelope, Community, Forest, Population, Protection.

INTRODUCTION most widespread traditions of community conservation.

Several types of sacred spaces, mostly in forest and pasture
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, a landmark in the history of
land, have characterized the state (Meena et al., 2017a).
wildlife legislation in India, came into existence in 1972.
The state has the "orans", sacred pastures and woodlands
The act provides the protection of wild animals, birds and
plants and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or used primarily for grazing of wildlife with the protected
incidental thereto. The act provides the basic framework to tree species. Various local communities including Bishnois
ensure the protection and management of wildlife. Prior to consider trees as sacred, but their empathy extends to every
the Act, hunting of threatened species such as tigers, living being on earth. So they protect the entire ecosystem
elephants, blackbucks, Gazelle and leopards was that exists in their villages. Animals like blackbucks and
widespread and led to each of these species becoming chinkaras, and birds like vultures, partridges, peacocks and
endangered. Since the Act was developed, many people even the endangered Great Indian Bustard, find the village
have been convicted of offences related to poaching, a safe haven.
hunting out of season, and killing endangered animals.
Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) (Linnaeus, 1758) is a
In India, people respect trees, animals, forests, rivers stylish gazelle-like antelope regarded as the best-looking
and other elements of nature like the sun and the moon. As member of the family Bovidae. It is called by the name
we pass through the length and breadth of India, we Kala Hiran in Hindi. Taxonomically blackbucks are
frequently come across numerous sites that portray a classified under the subfamily Antilopinae, family Bovidae
peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife. To and the order Cetartiodactyla. The IUCN Red list has listed
some extent, this is possible due to traditional acceptance of this animal as-Least Concern with increasing population
the wildlife and largely it is the result of combined efforts trend (IUCN 2017) and is included in Appendix III of the
of native people living around these sites which protects Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
nature for its sustainable use and ecological significance. of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In India, hunting and
For multiple reasons, Rajasthan has perhaps one of India's poaching of blackbuck are prohibited under Schedule I of

*Corresponding author: Ms. Renu Meena, Research Scholar, Department of Zoology,

Government College, Kota -324001, Rajasthan, India, Email: renumeena@outlook.com 71
Ram Prakash Saran and Renu Meena Int. J. Zool. Appl. Biosci., 3(1), 71-76, 2018

the Wildlife Act of 1972 (Meena et al., 2017b). The Population status of blackbuck in Rajasthan
Blackbuck is native to India and earlier occurred across
In India, blackbuck population has been reported in states
almost the throughout the Indian subcontinent. Although of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra,
blackbuck now has disappeared from numerous areas due Odisha, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar,
to habitat destruction for anthropocentric development, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil
they are increasing in many protected areas and community Nadu and Karnataka. Among the 15 states of India, where
reserves in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana (Rahmani, blackbuck is found, the large number is found is Rajasthan
2001). In Rajasthan, herds of blackbuck can be easily seen (Rahmani 1991). In Rajasthan, the blackbuck is distributed
in western, northern as well as southeastern part of the state across various districts which include Baran, Bikaner,
(Figure 1). Churu, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jalore, Jodhpur,
Kota, Nagaur, Pali, Sawai Madhopur,Sikar, Sirohi and
Blackbuck exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism;
Tonk (Figure 2).
males have black and white pelage and large spiraling
horns. The brown areas at the back of males gradually The major site where the blackbuck population has
darken with age finally becoming black (Prater 1965). been protected is Tal Chhapar Sanctuary. Tal Chhapar
Blackbucks rarely live in isolation, they are mostly found Sanctuary is a sanctuary located in the Churu district of
mainly in groups. They are found in wide range of habitat Northwestern Rajasthan in the Shekhawati region of India.
but it attains greatest densities in semi-arid grasslands According to the state forest department the Tal Chhapar
Sanctuary houses the largest blackbuck population in the
(Jarman, 1974). They feed on fresh tender leaves, grass,
state. Ranthambhore National Park, Chambal and Shergarh
crops, cereals, vegetables and leaves of shrubs and trees
protected area have some recordable populations. The data
(Meena and Chourasia, 2017a). Blackbuck is mainly from forest department (Rajasthan) suggest that population
diurnal, rarely can be nocturnal (Meena and Choursia, of blackbuck has increased in protected areas (Table 1,
2017b).They show a definite pattern of activities in the Figure 3). The Rajasthan forest department is doing
fixed hours of the day which may slightly vary with the efficient work to protect wildlife including blackbuck. The
seasons (Sharma, 2013, Meena et al. 2017b). Blackbuck population of blackbuck in different protected area of
has important ecological roles in grassland ecosystem Rajasthan has increased from 2209 to 2692 in last six years.
(Meena et al, 2017c). (Table 1).

Figure 1. Herds of blackbuck a. Sorsan region, Baran b. Guda region, Jodhpur.

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Ram Prakash Saran and Renu Meena Int. J. Zool. Appl. Biosci., 3(1), 71-76, 2018

Figure 2. Map of Rajasthan state showing distribution of blackbucks.

The major site where the blackbuck population has been Jodhpur, Karauli, Kota, Nagaur, Pali, Sawai Madhopur,
protected is Tal Chhapar Sanctuary. Tal Chhapar Sanctuary Sikar, Sirohi and Tonk districts of Rajasthan. The increase
is a sanctuary located in the Churu district of Northwestern in the population of blackbuck outside protected area has
Rajasthan in the Shekhawati region of India. According to been phenomenal. In last six years population has increased
the state forest department the Tal Chhapar Sanctuary almost 250 % (Figure 4). The population recorded in 2011
houses the largest blackbuck population in the state. was 11248 which have reached to 27838 in 2016 (Table 1).
Ranthambhore National Park, Chambal and Shergarh The increase in population outside protected area represents
protected area have some recordable populations. The data positive cooperation of society and forest department in
from forest department (Rajasthan) suggest that population Rajasthan.
of blackbuck has increased in protected areas (Table 1, The major increase in black population in last six years
Figure 3). The Rajasthan forest department is doing (2011-2016) has been observed in Baran, Bikaner, Jodhpur,
efficient work to protect wildlife including blackbuck. The Nagaur and Pali. In Baran, blackbuck population has
population of blackbuck in different protected area of increased from 1144 individuals in 2011 to 3394 in 2016.
Rajasthan has increased from 2209 to 2692 in last six years. In Bikaner population has increased almost five-fold while
(Table 1). in Nagaur it has doubled (Figure 5). In Pali large number
(6201) blackbucks has been reported in 2016, prior to this
Distribution of blackbuck population outside closed number of blackbuck were very low. In districts like Bundi,
area has been reported in Baran, Barmer, Bikaner, Churu, Jaipur, Sirohi and Tonk the count of blackbuck is very low
Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jalore, as compare to other sites (Table 2).

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Ram Prakash Saran and Renu Meena Int. J. Zool. Appl. Biosci., 3(1), 71-76, 2018

Table 1. Trend in population of blackbuck in protected and outside protected area in Rajasthan (Source: Rajasthan forest
department, 2017)
Year Protected Area Outside protected area Total
2016 2692 27838 30530
2015 2508 15189 17697
2014 2472 15549 18021
2013 2487 14073 16560
2012 2316 12789 15105
2011 2209 11248 13457

Figure 3. Population status of blackbuck (2011-2016) in protected and outside protected area in Rajasthan.

Figure 4. Change in population of blackbuck from 2011-2016 in protected and outside protected area in Rajasthan.

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Ram Prakash Saran and Renu Meena Int. J. Zool. Appl. Biosci., 3(1), 71-76, 2018

Figure 5. Trend in change of blackbuck population outside of closed area in different districts of Rajasthan (Source:
Rajasthan Forest Department, 2017).

Table 2. Population status of blackbuck outside protected area in Rajasthan (Source: Rajasthan Forest Department, 2017).
Year
District
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Baran 1144 1774 1796 1994 2240 3394
Bikaner 136 140 152 219 235 701
Bundi 49 54 32 24 71 66
Churu 0 0 0 0 0 2673
Ganganagar 3596 3568 3570 3750 3879 4012
Hanumangarh 186 768 811 776 781 815
Jaipur 0 0 0 40 22 23
Jodhpur 2301 3238 3390 2530 2702 3932
Karauli 126 140 163 262 169 160
Kota 182 185 198 356 361 287
Nagaur 2456 2496 3660 3992 4426 5495
Pali 0 30 23 61 229 6201
Sirohi 6 5 14 17 8 14
Tonk 300 321 219 204 66 65

DISCUSSION east parts of Rajasthan. Northern districts like

Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh have luxurious blackbuck
Rahmani (1991) reported that blackbuck is observed in the
13 states of India, but now two more states namely population; similarly, south-eastern districts like Baran,
Jharkhand and Telangana can be added to this list. Out of Bundi, Kota have a noticeable number of blackbucks.
these fifteen states, blackbucks are observed in the large Ranjitsinh (1982) estimated between 7600 and 8000
number in Rajasthan. Schaller (1967) and Hemsingh and blackbucks in the whole of Rajasthan, but according to the
Jakhar (2007) reported that the principal distribution of the census done by the forest department, Rajasthan in 2016
blackbuck in India is limited to Western Rajasthan, but there are 30530 individuals of blackbuck in protected and
reports from forest department suggest that blackbuck can outside the protected area which is almost four times of
be observed in good number in Northern as well as south- earlier estimates.

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Ram Prakash Saran and Renu Meena Int. J. Zool. Appl. Biosci., 3(1), 71-76, 2018

CONCLUSION Blackbuck Antilope Cervicapra (Linn) in the Sorsan

Grassland. Int. J. Res. Appl. Sci. Eng. Tech., 5(12),
The data from the forest department, Rajasthan suggest the
1560-1564.
population of blackbuck in the different protected area has
remained almost constant or slightly increased while there Meena, R., Saran, R.P. and Chourasia, V., 2017a. First
has been a significant rise in blackbuck population outside report on ecotourism potential in sorsan region of
the protected area. The increase in blackbuck population Rajasthan. J. New Biol. Rep., 6 (3), 134-141.
outside protected area has been possible due to Meena, R., Chourasia, V. and Saran, R.P., 2017b. Diurnal
collaborative efforts of forest department and the local and seasonal activity pattern of the blackbuck
community. Forest department regularly organizes (Antelope: Cervicapra) in the sorsan grassland,
community meeting, workshop and conservation programs Rajasthan. Int. J. Rec. Sci. Res., 8(12), 22496-22501.
for local youth, community leaders, farmers, teachers and
students to raise awareness, education and communication Meena, R., Saran, R.P. and Chourasia, V., 2017c.
for a better understanding of blackbuck conservation and its Population characteristics, habitat availability, forage
importance in Rajasthan. The positive outcomes of such preferences and threats to the blackbuck Antilope
initiative can be witnessed in form of blooming wildlife in cervicapra (Linn) in the Sorsan Region of Baran,
different sites. Rajasthan, World J. Zool., 12 (3), 53-59.
Prater S.H., 1965. The book of Indian Animals, Bombay
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Natural History Society and Prince of Wales Museum
of Western India, 2nd Ed: 270-271.
The Authors specially acknowledge the work done by
Forest Department, Rajasthan for conservation of Rahmani, A.R., 1991. Present Distribution of the
blackbuck. The information about population census of Blackbuck Antilope Cervicapra Linn. In India, With
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