Technical panel visits black buck sanctuary to start conservation

Nagpur: The technical committee formed to restore black buck sanctuary at Karanja-Sohol recently paid its first visit to the area to review management activities and suggest ways to prevent the animals from straying outside the sanctuary.
Two months back, TOI had reported that a technical committee was set up by principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Shree Bhagwan to restore the lost glory of the sanctuary.The committee headed by retired additional PCCF (wildlife) Nandkishore includes Kishor Rithe of Satpuda Foundation, grassland management adviser GD Muratkar, honorary wildlife warden of Akola and chief conservator of forests (CCF) for Yavatmal Circle VV Gurme.
During the first visit, the committee members interacted with field staff and villagers, and directed the staffers to work on proper data collection for the next two months. “We have directed them to work on two aspects — population dynamics of animals and vegetation. Before suggesting habitat improvement work, we first need to know distribution pattern of animals. Also, tree species like khair, ber and grasses are dominant in the area. Though black bucks prefer open grasslands, we can’t say that these species are unneeded, as we saw nilgais resting in their shadows,” said Rithe.
Apart from this, the members saw effective and non-effective fencing done by villagers to prevent crop damage from animals. The members will keep visiting the sanctuary to guide staffers.
Lack of management by the last many officials has forced black bucks, for whom the sanctuary was notified, to leave Karanja-Sohol Blackbuck Sanctuary. Forest officials had pointed out that the blackbuck population was straying outside and affecting agriculture crops in the district. The issue was raised recently during the 16th birdwatchers’ meet (Pakshimitra Sammelan) at Washim on December 19, 2015, by Kishor Rithe, bird expert and former member of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). Considering the concerns raised by Rithe and others, Bhagwan had constituted a technical committee to suggest measures for habitat manipulation to restore it back as a grassland sanctuary.