Officials at the Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR) are concerned about the health condition of Blackbucks, locally known as Krishnashar, that were translocated to the area from Central Zoo, Nepalgunj mini zoo and Blackbuck Conservation Area in Bardiya three years ago.

Reserve authorities said the number of near-threatened blackbucks, scientifically known as Antilope cervicapra, has not increased even three years after their translocation to Hirapurphanta inside the SWR. The number of the rare species has decreased from 42 to 39 during the same period. “Despite efforts, including fencing of the area, to provide a proper habitat for the blackbucks, their population has not increased. Some of them have shown symptoms of tapeworm infestation,” said Bed Kumar Dhakal, chief conservation officer at the SWR.

A section of the protected area designated for blackbuck conservation inside the SWR has seen an increasing trend of open grazing of livestock from nearby villages, threatening the ongoing conservation efforts, Dhakal said. Two among the 42 blackbucks that were translocated to the area from various parts of the country died of tapeworm infestation and pneumonia last month.

A number of blackbucks from various conservation sites were brought to a 17-hectare area inside Shuklaphanta in three different phases from September 2012 to last year. “We had planned to keep the blackbuck in the fenced area for some years and after finding a favorable condition, relocate them in the wild environment with the increase in population,” Dhakal said. The reserve management plans to expand the existing 17-hectare area designated as habitat for blackbucks to 37 hectares next year.

In the meantime, in order to improve the health condition of the existing blackbucks inside Shuklaphanta, the reserve authorities have asked the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Reserve to conduct health check-up of this species. “We expect to improve the habitat and health condition of the blackbucks and see their number rise in the coming days,” Dhakal added.