13 Blackbucks from Nandankanan Relocated to Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary

Puri: Thirteen blackbucks from the Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar were transported to the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary as part of the animal translocation programme.

This translocation of blackbucks is part of the efforts to rebuild blackbuck population in the sanctuary, where blackbucks became extinct after the 1999 super cyclone. Located at a distance of 10 km from Puri, this sanctuary now has spotted deer.

Ten blackbucks, six females, and four males were translocated from the Nandankanan Zoological Park to this sanctuary on June 18. With 13 more blackbucks from Nandankanan, the sanctuary now has 23 blackbucks.

The translocated blackbucks will be kept under quarantine till they are ready to be released into the wild. The forest department plans to transfer more blackbucks to the Balukhand-Konark sanctuary in future.