The Ministry of Forests and Environment has decided to relocate 18 blackbucks from Kanchanpur and Bardiya to the Tikouli area of Chitwan. The blackbuck is listed as an endangered species, and the ministry has informed that Nepal’s population exceeds 500. A secure environment will be created by erecting an enclosure and constructing infrastructure within an area of 20 hectares for the relocation.
The blackbucks will be moved from Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchanpur and the Blackbuck Conservation Area in Bardiya to the Tikouli area in Chitwan. According to the ministry, six males and twelve females will be relocated. In 1976 (Bikram Sambat 2033), the blackbuck population in Khairapur, Bardiya was limited to just nine. The ministry noted that effective conservation measures have led to a significant increase in their numbers since then.
Over the past decade, a total of 42 blackbucks have been relocated from Sadar Zoo and Khairapur to the Hirapur Range of Shuklaphanta National Park to increase their population in Nepal. The ministry explained that limiting wildlife to specific areas poses risks of sudden extinction due to genetic, environmental, and unforeseen factors.
In line with this practice and necessity, a task force formed by the ministry prepared a feasibility and field study report, recommending relocation based on prior theoretical decisions and approved action plans. Accordingly, an enclosure and minimal infrastructure will be established on approximately 20 hectares to facilitate the blackbucks’ relocation.
