The Hindu's video: Where have all the blackbucks gone The Hindu

Two years ago, by the backwaters of the Sriramsagar Project at Nadikuda village in Nizamabad district of Telangana, thousands of blackbucks were strutting about all over the territory. But today only a dozen blackbucks can be spotted and that too, after a four-hour intense search. Where have all the blackbucks gone? Blackbucks or the Indian Antelope are native to India and Nepal. They live on grassy plains and forest areas that have perennial water sources. They are an endangered species, mainly hunted for their skin. Blackbucks are generally sighted between February and July when the backwaters recede after the water from the Sriramsagar Project is released for agriculture during the summer. The backwaters were discovered as a blackbuck-habitat only in May 2020. Unfortunately, the whole area is unprotected. The blackbucks are easy prey for professional killers. The popularity of the blackbucks at the backwaters attracts many tourists. Experts and wildlife enthusiasts worry that human interference is a major reason for the dwindling number of blackbucks. In August 2020, district forest officials announced that the blackbucks sighted at the backwaters would be protected. A blackbuck sanctuary was planned to be set up on the lines of Velvadar in Gujarat. Apart from this, CCTV cameras were also to be placed for complete surveillance. But the number of blackbucks sighted continued to fall Apart from the blackbucks, the backwaters also saw flamingos, raptors, pelicans, Indian courser, pratincoles, cormorants, painted storks, open-billed storks, spoonbills and different types of ducks. Leopards and Jackals were also spotted around to hunt the blackbucks. Experts and enthusiasts say the opportunity to set up an exclusive blackbuck sanctuary has been missed. They fear that the possibility of spotting herds of blackbucks in the backwaters again is bleak. Thank you for watching our video! Voiceover & Production: Ananyaa Desikan Reporting: VV Subrahmanyam Read: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/where-have-the-blackbucks-bolted/article65411551.ece?homepage=true You can subscribe to our channel here: https://bit.ly/3c8Adi6 Visit https://www.thehindu.com/ for the latest updates, analysis, opinions, and more. You can also download our apps: Android: https://bit.ly/3nboBEi iOs: https://apple.co/3EDCwt4 The Hindu is committed to keeping you up-to-date with information on the developments in India and the world. We promise to deliver quality journalism that stays away from vested interest and political propaganda. You can support us by subscribing to our digital offerings here: https://bit.ly/3emywiz Follow us: Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_hindu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_hindu/ Chapters 00:00 - 00:35 - Introduction 00:35 - 1:12 - Blackbucks at Sriram Sagar Project backwaters 1:12 - 1:38 - Why are blackbucks endangered? 1:38 - 2:06 - Steps taken to protect blackbucks 2:06 - 2:31 - Other animals and birds at Sriram Sagar Project backwaters 2:31 - 2:58 - Fate of the blackbucks