Bit of my school work III

Protect the Blackbuck
Background
Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is the only representative of genus antilope found in India. It is one of the most graceful animals and used to be seen in thousands at the beginning of this century all throughout the plains of India except the Western coast. Due to extensive poaching and habitat loss, blackbuck populations have been reduced drastically. Now they can be seen in a a few protected areas like the Guindy National park and IITM campus, Point Calimere and Vellanadu Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu and Rollapadu (Andhra Pradesh), Velavadar (Gujarat) and Chilka (Orissa) other than few parts of Rajasthan and Hariyana.
In IIT Madras campus too, their numbers have declined from hundreds in the eighties to less than 20 in 2003. Blackbuck require open grass lands with intermittent tall grass or bushes (for delivery, fawn nursing and to seek protection against predators as well as the rain and wind). This is unlike the spotted deer, which can survive in dense forests and bush jungles. Blackbuck are also very territorial and sensitive to environmental pressures. An adult male blackbuck tries to maintain his territory by marking it and defending it in the rutting season. When the population increases they require adequate space for healthy survival.
Similarly, the female blackbuck requires tall grass or small bushe to delivers fawns (one per year mostly). The fawn will "lie down" during the first one week hidden in the grass/bush and the mother will nurse at few hours interval. The blackbuck fawns are quite weak during the first few weeks and can be easily predated by dogs. Therefore it is very essential to have undisturbed open areas with small bush/tall grass cover for the healthy survival of young blackbuck. The fawn will join the mother and other group members when it is about two weeks old.
Their capability to run at speeds of 70mph makes them the fastest surviving species on the subcontinent and protects them against most predators alive today. Due to shrinkage and fragmentation of habitat everywhere, the pressure on existing habitats is quite high. This also tells us that it is inappropriate to think of shifting and relocating them elsewhere. In addition, the casualities asssociated with such processes are quite high (see reference, Elizabeth Mungall, Indian Blackbuck). It is important to protect them in distributed and more number of habitats, where ever possible. Today, blackbuck is included in the endangered species list in India (included in Schedule I of Indian Wildlife Act, 1972). Therefore, IITM campus has an important role in protecting the blackbuck in the campus which is their original and native habitat.
Threats
The major reasons for the decline of blackbuck population in IITM campus can be attributed to the following:
Most of the open areas have been used for construction without realizing that blackbuck require open areas and private space for rearing the young (one cannot expect blackbuck to deliver or nurse the fawn in stadium or lawns or where peole move around)
Loss of one of their original and favourite areas, like the erstwhile NCC ground (converted into Sanmar Cricket ground, fenced)
Destruction of native wild plants, grass and herbs without realizing their role in sustaining a species like blackbuck by creating lawns or just by clearing plants annually
Introduction of non-edible, exotic grass species, sprayed with pesticides in the name of lawns is shrinking vital space of the blackbuck further
Fencing of available natural, open areas and creation of concrete parking spaces in many small open areas which used to be blackbuck food sources
Hectic building activities in the campus especially in the prime habitat area during 2004-2006 has affected them heavily due to constrcution activities, presence of large number of workers who uses open areas as toilets, movement of trucks and lorries, presence of construction materials in the open, dumping of huge amounts of construction debris in various places ( a male blackbuck had a broken leg due to this in mid-2006)
Killing by stray dogs. Stray dogs are on the rise in the campus which can be attributed to the availability of waste food disposed in open areas and forests and deforestation leading to urbanisation of different parts of the campus. Dogs do not generall hunt in forest areas with native plants (most of them have good thorns which prevent the dogs)
Speeding vehicles and increasing number of vehicles in the campus. Number of blackbuck killed by vehicles almost matches the numbers killed by stray dogs in the recent years. In 2002, two female black buck (one pregnant) and in 2004 one adult male blackbuck, in 2005 a fawn.... by vehicles. Heavy traffic movement (especially the traffic to the schools located inside the campus) in their habitat is one of the reasons for their drastic decline in the campus.
Though we have only limited area in IIT campus, by judicious planning and willing heart, we can protect this national heritage in our campus.
How can we protect blackbuck in the campus?
The decline in population of the blackbuck is an indicator to the environmental degradation that is around us. Typical grass land birds like grey patridge, Indian Pitta and Hoopoe have almost disappeared from the campus, where as they can be seen in the adjacent GNP. This itself indicates the campus is becoming more and more urbanised and loosing its basic habitat requirements for wildlife like blackbuck and many other species which require less interventions from humans. The pressure on their habitat reflects the pressure that is building up on our own habitat. If we improve their habitat, it will improve our chances of survival on earth too.
To protect an endangered species in an isolated habitat like that of IIT or GNP special care has to be taken. The isolated habitat status makes them all the more vulnerable, unless habitat is maintained according to their survival needs. Taking these into account, if we follow certain simple principles, we may succeed in improving their population to a healthy level. This require participation and support from everyone who is a part of the campus and the local people who supports it.
Maintain their habitat area as open grasslands and avoid planting more trees in this area. Trees will not allow grass and herbs to grow, on which the blackbuck survive. Details of the blackbuck habitat area are shown on the campus map.
Avoid construction and concreting, especially in the blackbuck habitat area. This is increasingly reducing the food availability of these animals. This area is heavily built up (about 25% including concreted and paved surfaces) and fragmented due to buildings coming up in key habitat zones dividing them and making them not accessible to animals
Avoid creating lawns and return the existing lawns back to nature to recover native species
Protecting trees alone will not help humans as well as other animals who feed on the ground. A habitat is healthy due to various species that exist there in harmony. Protect bio-diversity by protecting the native wild plants and trees
Refrain from creating fences on campus. Take pro-active steps to remove fences around your buildings. This will increase the habitat area for animals
Drive carefully and slowly in the campus. There have been many cases where Blackbuck and Spotted deer were killed by vehicles. Instruct drivers if you are using taxi/auto etc.
Do not throw cooked food remains in open bins as this encourages stray dogs.
What are Endangered Species?
Endangered animals or species are those whose numbers are at a critically low level and whose habitats are so drastically reduced or damaged that they are in imminent danger of extinction.
In India, the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, provides four schedules categorising the Fauna of India based on their conservation status. Schedule I lists the rare and endangered species, which are afforded legal protection. At present, approximately 81 species of mammals, 38 species of birds, and 18 species of amphibians and reptiles are considered to be endangered in India.
Why should we conserve Endangered Species?
We would not have been able to survive by ourselves. This is because all life on earth is inter-related and interconnected. Living things are dependent upon their physical environment - the land, water and air. Plants and vegetation form the basic life support providers on earth - Oxygen- and help to recycle water into the water cycle. They also provide food and home for animals, insects and birds pollinate flowers, animals help in dispersal of seeds of plants, parasites infest plants or animals.
There are also Nature's Cleaners- The crow, the eagle, the hyena, and others who act as scavengers and bacteria aiding in decomposing the dead. They play an important role in returning the organic and inorganic components of dead animals and plants back to nature to be used and reused by subsequent living organisms.
Nature provides an extremely complex and intricate network of living things delicately balanced and adapted to inhabit the diverse climatic and geographical regions on our planet. Many of these intricate relationships are not understood and that gives all the mores reasons to protect these natural wealth.
This is our Natural Heritage - A Heritage on which we ourselves among many species of animals depend for our sustenance and survival.

Bit of my school work II

Blackbuck
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For other uses, see Blackbuck (disambiguation).
Blackbuck

Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Artiodactyla
Family:
Bovidae
Subfamily:
Antilopinae
Genus:
AntilopePallas, 1766
Species:
A. cervicapra
Binomial name
Antilope cervicapra(Linnaeus, 1758)
Subspecies
Antilope cervicapra centralisAntilope cervicapra cervicapraAntilope cervicapra rajputanaeAntilope cervicapra rupicapra

Male & female in Hyderabad, India.
Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is a species of antelope found mainly in India, but also in parts of Pakistan and Nepal. There are also introduced populations in various parts of the world including numerous ranches in Texas in the United States of America; free-ranging populations also exist in Argentina and in southern Australia
Local names for the species include Kala hiran, Sasin, Iralai Maan, Krishna Jinka, Krishna Mriga in Kannada and Kalveet in Marathi. It is often simply called "Indian antelope" though this term might also be used for other Antilopinae from the region.
[edit] Description
The horns of the Blackbuck are ringed with 1 to 4 turns, rarely more than 4 turns, and can be as long as 28 inches. A trophy Blackbuck is 18+ inches. In the male, the upper body is black (dark brown), and the belly and eye rings are white. The light-brown female is usually hornless. Blackbucks usually roam the plains in herds of 15 to 20 animals with one dominant male.
There are four subspecies or geographic races
Antilope cervicapra cervicapra
Antilope cervicapra rajputanae
Antilope cervicapra centralis
Antilope cervicapra rupicapra
[edit] Native habitat
Jumping in Hyderabad, India.
Originally spread over large tracts of India (except in North East India). Today the Blackbuck population is confined to areas in Orissa,Punjab, Rajasthan, [[Haryana],Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with a few small pockets in Central India. Its original habitat is open plain and not dense jungles. On the open plain, the Blackbuck is one of the fastest animals and can outrun most predators over long distances. Its chief predator was the now extinct Indian Cheetah. It is now sometimes preyed upon by wolves, feral dogs, etc.
The diet of the Blackbuck consists mostly of grasses, although it does eat pods, flowers and fruits to supplement its diet. The maximum life span recorded is 16 years and the average is 12 years.
[edit] Threats
The main threats to the species are
Poaching
Predation
Habitat destruction
Overgrazing
Diseases
Inbreeding
Visitors
The Blackbuck is hunted for its flesh and its skin. Although Indian law strictly prohibits the hunting of these endangered animals, there are still occasional incidents of poaching. The remaining populations are under threat from inbreeding. The natural habitat of the Blackbuck is being encroached upon by man's need for arable land and grazing ground for domesticated cattle. Exposure to domesticated cattle also renders the Blackbuck exposed to bovine diseases. Once large herds freely roamed in the plains of North India, where they thrive best, but no longer. During the eighteenth, nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries, Blackbuck was the most hunted wild animal all over India. Until India's independence, many princely states used to hunt this antelope and the other local Indian gazelle, the Chinkara with specially trained pet Asiatic Cheetah. With their habitat of vast grasslands converted into farmlands due to human population explosion the Asiatic Cheetahs are now sadly extinct in India since its independence and in most of Asia, the very last few fight for survival in Iran. Fortunately the population is still stable with 50,000 native individuals, with an additional 43,000 introduced individuals to Texas and Argentina, the species could be seen in zoos.
[edit] Gallery
2 young male blackbuck fighting, at the Knowsley Safari Park
[edit] Mythology
According to the Hindu mythology Blackbuck or Krishna Jinka is considered as the vehicle (vahana) of the Moon-god or Chandrama.
[edit] Miscellaneous
The blackbuck, known as Krishna Jinka in Telugu language, has been declared the state animal of Andhra Pradesh.As per Garuda Purana of Hindu Mythology, Krishna Jinka bestows prosperity in the areas where they live.
Like most wild animals, the Blackbuck is in principle protected in India by the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Its protected status has gained publicity through a widely reported court case in which one of India's leading film stars, Mr. Salman Khan, was sentenced to five years imprisonment for killing two black bucks and several endangered chinkaras. The arrest was prompted by intense protests from the Bishnoi ethnic group, which holds animals and trees sacred, and on whose land the hunting had taken place.
In the past hunting of Blackbuck with the help of trained Asiatic Cheetahs was a sport much enjoyed by the Indian Royalty.
Several species of Indian deer and antelope were brought to the United States, specifically Texas, during the early part of the 20th century for the purpose of hunting and breeding. Some of these included Blackbuck, Axis Deer, or Chital Deer as they are called in India, Barasingha, and Nilgai. These species, plus many others, can now be found on private hunting ranches and freely roaming the Hill Country and surroundings areas in Texas. Game ranch raised blackbucks are so thriving and plentiful that specimens were shipped from Texas to India in order to repopulate certain areas. In 2007, a blackbuck hunt in U.S.A. for a male trophy ranged in price from $750 - $2,500 USD depending on quality and outfitter.
[edit] Sanctuaries
Abohar wildlife sanctuary
Bandhavgarh National Park
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar
Chhapar, Churu, Black Buck Santuary
Corbett National Park
Gir National Park
Guindy National Park
Kanha National Park
Kirthar National Park (Pakistan)
Lal Sohanra National parks (Pakistan)
Maidenahalli Blackbuck Reserve, Tumakuru District, Karnataka
Pilikula Biological Park, Mangalore, Karnataka
Ranthambhore National Park
Rehakuri Sanctuary, Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra
KrushnaMruga Abhayaranya,Ranebennur,Karnataka

Bit of my school work.

Indian Gazelle / Chinkara( Gazella gazella)
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This animal is at the other end of the spectrum from the Blue bull. This is the smallest asiatic antelope. It grows to a height of 65 cms and weighs up to a mere 25 kgs. Most males have very short horns, although some grow to a length of 25 - 30 cms. These gazelles are found mostly in open woodlands and scrublands. Their numbers have dwindled to a large extent and they feature on the endangered list. They have a life expectancy of 12 - 15 years, which too is shorter than that of most of its cousins. Their diet consist of all kinds of vegetation. Although their favourite food is lush grass and many types of fruit.
Some of the more well endowed specimens can have horns that grow up to 30 cms.
They have a special characteristic which helps them survive trying times. They can go without water for long periods and can even get sufficient fluids from plants and dew drops. Although mostly seen as solitary animals, they can sometimes be spotted in small groups numbering up to 3 - 4 individuals. They don't have any specific breeding period although it is mostly concentrated around autumn and spring. They have a gestation period of 5 and a half months.
Due to their ability to survive without large sources of water, their habits can vary from one place to another
Certain researchers consider the decline in the Chinkara population as the reason behind the Cheetah getting extinct in India. Due to their ability to do without large sources of water, their ideal habitat ranges over varied regions of different topography. The male members of this species is known to be territorial and do not wander large distances like some of their cousins.They portray a very hyper and nervous appearance due to the constant wagging of their tail or very frequent glances around to check for approaching danger.
The Cinkara gazelle can be seen in various parks across India but the best wildlife parks in which to look out for this animal are Gir, Panna, Ranthambore and the Desert National Park.

The Chinkara (Gazella bennettii) or Jabeer Gazelle is a species of gazelle found in South Asia. It lives in grasslands and desert areas in India, Bangladesh and parts of Iran and Pakistan. It is also known as the Indian Gazelle (Gazella gazella bennetti).

G. b. fuscifrons of Baluchistan
This gazelle stands at 65 centimetres and weighs about 23 kilograms. Its summer coat is a reddish-buff colour, with smooth, glossy fur. In winter the white belly and throat fur is in greater contrast. The sides of the face have dark chestnut stripes from the corner of the eye to the muzzle, bordered by white stripes. The horns reach over 39 centimetres.[1]
It is a shy animal and avoids human habitation. It can go without water for long periods and can get sufficient fluids from plants and dew. Although most individuals are seen alone, they can sometimes be spotted in groups of up to four animals.
Certain researchers consider the decline in the Chinkara population as the reason behind the extinction of the Asiatic Cheetah in India. It is classified as extremely vulnerable and endowed in the highly endangered species list. Its population is on the decline due to it being hunted for game. The Bishnoi community traditionally protect wildlife in the state of Rajasthan. In a famous case an Indian film star Salman Khan was sentenced to a 5 year prison sentence for shooting chinkara and blackbuck living under their protection.
There are currently 80,000 gazelles left. It isn't much of a concern to conservationists because of its wide range and stable population, but is fully protected in its range.