Bhubaneswar: The blackbuck population in Ganjam, Odisha, has increased to 9,287, marking a growth of 498 individuals compared to last year’s count of 8,789.
The annual census, conducted with the help of trained teams, drones, and AI cameras, involved 123 teams comprising forest department staff, local residents, and students. Berhampur Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) and the Asika Ranger directly supervised the enumeration exercise.
The survey covered 70 units across four zones, identifying blackbucks based on their coat color, with black-coated animals recorded as males and brown-coated ones as females.
The increase is attributed to successful community-led conservation efforts and improved habitats. The Forest Department plans to further boost the population through better habitat management and has initiated a reintroduction program in Balukhand-Konark wildlife sanctuary, Puri, where the species had gone extinct.
