Blackbuck found dead in Ganjam

Another blackbuck was found dead today near Bhetanai-Balipadara road under Aska forest range in Ganjam district of Odisha, officials said.
Forest officials suspected the four-year-old female blackbuck died in road accident.
Earlier this month at least three black bucks had died near the area. While one of them died on July 12 due to suspected infighting, another died the next day while a speedy vehicle allegedly ran over the animal.
An eight-month old male blackbuck, locally known as Bali Harina died when stray dogs had allegedly attacked it at Banapalli, near Balipadar on July 4.
Ganjam district, particularly the Bhetanai-Balipadara areas has been identified as one of the biggest habitats of the black buck in the country.

According to the census in July 2011, there were 2,181 black bucks in Aska, Buguda, Polasara, Khallikote and Berhampur forest ranges, as compared to 1,672 in 2008. Their number was 551 in 1998, 786 in 2004 and 1,101 in 2006, official sources said.
During the month of July and August, the black bucks generally come out to the open and roads as the farm lands are filled with rain waters. This was one of the causes for infighting between the herds and road mishaps, a senior forest officer said.