Endangered blackbuck found dead in Ganjam

Forest officials found the carcass of a blackbuck today at Bhetanai in Ganjam district, the only habitat of this endangered species in Odisha.
The half eaten carcass of an adult female blackbuck, aged around eight years, was found in a paddy field in Bhetanai under Aska forest range, forest department officials said.
The carcass was spotted by the Blackbuck Protection Committee president, Amulya Upadhaya, who informed to the forest officials.
The blackbuck is suspected to have been killed by a wolf or hyena, said forester B K Roul.
A portion of the body had been consumed by some other animals, a forest official said.

With this, at least 15 blackbucks, who are also known as the Indian antelope have died in various places of the district during the last four months due to different reasons such as road accident, attack by stray dogs, infighting and also for natural causes, forest officials said.
As many as 18 and 21 blackbucks had died in 2016-17 and 2015-16 respectively, they added.