New Delhi, April 26 (IANS). Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about the black buck of Chhattisgarh in the 133rd episode of his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program on Sunday. The PM said that an important achievement has been achieved towards wildlife conservation in Central India. Black buck has returned to the open plains of Chhattisgarh.
PM Modi said that after many years of local extinction and sustained conservation measures, these beautiful antelope are once again running freely in the natural landscapes of the state, symbolizing the revival of the vanishing biological heritage.
The return of blackbucks has been possible only because of a dedicated five-year revival program focused on the Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary. After being declared locally extinct in 2017, the state forest department launched a strategic reintroduction plan, under which the deer were translocated from the National Zoo in New Delhi and the Kanan Pendari Zoo in Bilaspur.
The PM specifically pointed to the Great Indian Bustard, a critically endangered species, and the new hopes being raised for the species through advanced breeding programmes.
Recent achievements include the successful breeding of chicks in Gujarat under an interstate initiative, under which eggs were brought from Rajasthan to revive the local population. The Prime Minister also appreciated the developing relationship between humans and wildlife in the region.
Along with this, in Mann Ki Baat, the PM said that in Chhattisgarh, a community-driven model is proving effective in reducing human-elephant conflicts. Local villagers in Uttar Pradesh have formed dedicated teams known as “Hathi Mitra Dal” to monitor the movements of elephants.
Using drones and WhatsApp alerts, these volunteers provide timely warnings to their communities, ensuring the safety of both crops and lives. This active shift towards co-existence has led to a significant reduction in conflict and a significant increase in public confidence.
By involving local citizens as the primary custodians of their environment, the State is promoting a culture of conservation that balances developmental needs with the conservation of India’s diverse fauna.
–IANS
SAK/VC
