Blackbuck Population Rises to 313 in Shuklaphanta, Marking a Major Conservation Success

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Blackbuck Population Rises to 313 in Shuklaphanta, Marking a Major Conservation Success

Blackbuck Population Rises to 313 in Shuklaphanta, Marking a Major Conservation Success

Ecosphere News Environment Correspondent 2026-06-18 11:49:00

Kanchanpur, Nepal - The population of blackbucks (Krishnasar) in the Hirapur Phanta area of Shuklaphanta National Park has reached 313 individuals, highlighting one of Nepal’s most encouraging wildlife conservation achievements in recent years. The growing herd reflects the success of a long-term rehabilitation and translocation program aimed at restoring the species in its historic habitat.
According to conservation records, blackbucks were reintroduced to Hirapur Phanta between 2012 and 2015 as part of a national effort to establish a second viable population of the species outside its stronghold in Bardiya. A total of 42 male and female blackbucks were relocated from Khairapur in Bardiya and the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel, Kathmandu. Since then, the population has steadily increased through natural breeding and habitat management.
The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), locally known as Krishnasar, is one of Nepal’s most iconic and threatened grassland mammals. Once widespread across the Indian subcontinent, the species experienced severe population declines due to habitat loss, hunting, and human encroachment. In Nepal, conservation efforts began after a small surviving herd was discovered in Bardiya in the 1970s, preventing the species from disappearing entirely from the country.
The successful growth of the Shuklaphanta population demonstrates the importance of habitat restoration, scientific wildlife management, and collaboration among government agencies and conservation organizations. Conservation experts note that maintaining a second population reduces the risk of extinction from disease outbreaks, natural disasters, or genetic isolation that could threaten a single herd.
However, the increasing number of blackbucks also presents new management challenges. Wildlife officials have emphasized the need for adequate grazing areas, habitat expansion, and long-term monitoring to ensure the population remains healthy and sustainable. As the herd continues to grow, conservation authorities are exploring strategies that balance species protection with habitat capacity and ecosystem health.
The sight of blackbucks grazing peacefully across the grasslands of Hirapur Phanta stands as a powerful symbol of Nepal’s commitment to wildlife conservation. Their remarkable recovery offers hope for the restoration of other threatened species and demonstrates that dedicated conservation efforts can reverse decades of decline.
Photo: A herd of blackbucks preserved in Hirapur Phata of Shuklaphanta National Park. Photo by Rajendra Prasad Paneru/RSS.
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