Blackbucks rescued by forest officials

BERHAMPUR (Odisha): Three blackbucks were rescued by forest officials near Tara Tarini Temple in Ganjam district of Odisha, officials said on Tuesday.

"We rescued the animals yesterday to ensure their safety," divisional forest officer (Berhampur) S S Mishra said.

The animals will be released in the deer park at Taptapani, he said.

Though Balipadara-Bhetanai are known to be blackbuck habitats in Ganjam district, the animals are straying due to an increase in their population.

The animals are moving to Jagannath Prasad, Belaguntha, Buguda, Polasara, Kodala, Khallikote, Aska and Bhanjanagara blocks.

The census in July 2011 had put the blackbuck number at 2,181 in Aska, Buguda, Polasara, Khallikote and Berhampur forest ranges compared to 1.672 in 2008. Their number was 551 in 1998, 786 in 2004 and 1,101 in 2006.