Blackbuck: On getting an approval

One fine afternoon, there was a call from some unknown number. As Kumar picked it up reluctantly, a strange voice from the other side asked is it Kumar-Mahesh? ‘Yes’. Haven’t you checked your mail? Asked the concerned voice! ‘Oh please do it at once and give us your consent regarding the Small Grants.’ It was a call from ATREE enquiring about our consent to the acceptance of the proposal we had sent. To our astonishment, it was already four days since the mail had arrived stating the selection of our proposal.

The agency was concerned about our decision because they had resized the budgeting and wanted to know if we could still take up the program. They had asked us to make necessary changes in the work to be carried out. It was not only the budget that mattered; it was the reduced time frame. Since the project was to do with schools, it had to be fit into their annual pattern of functioning. It was already January; getting into schools in the fag end of the year was not our greatest inconvenience but preparing the resource material by then was intriguing. At the same time the project should have to be completed within six months. This meant that we had to wait till the beginning of the next academic year. The schools begin in the month of June and we had to wrap up the program by 15^th July. It was a tight rope walk even though we would be ready with the resource material by the beginning of the schools.

Enriching ourselves

Shooting a positive reply to the agency, we sat for the preparations. We started pooling in all possible material on Blackbucks and listed out all possible ‘resourceful persons’- Biologists, Conservation Educators, Community NGOs and conventional Teachers. We decided to do the job in a very inclusive manner and saw to it that all the local groups working for Nature in Tumkur district were invited for a two days workshop for resource material generation. To make it convenient for them to be part of the process we decided to hold the workshop at Tumkur. The first day would be set aside to brainstorm about the education material for the teachers and some carry back material for students. It was decided to have a field visit to Mydanahalli to make the workshop meaningful and interesting.

Having called for the meeting, we were getting restless to wait until the day. So Kumar and Mahesh started going through the literature and even sat in front of the enclosure of Blackbucks in the Zoo. They spent several days observing the beautiful beast. They started recognizing individuals through their color and behavior. They could not resist updating their learning to others and almost did it on a daily basis.

The enclosure in the zoo, just about an acre contained no more than twenty blackbucks but it was a world in itself. About half a dozen of them were males while the rest were females or juveniles. This population was more than enough for any beginner to realize their body language. The males in rut displayed with their little tails twisted and turned upright. Two of the males even fought for their position to be an alpha male.

A full grown male buck.

Lekking-a behavior of guarding one’s territory was also observed. The Real hero of the lot was a dark coated handsome male. He kept to himself all day not bothered by any of the trivial movements made by the other males.

An alpha male inspecting a Lek.

But once fodder came into the enclosure he mustered to summon each one on them into a corner and feed all by himself. Once he quenched his appetite the females started getting close and taking their share.

In spite of all the freedom they had to express themselves, there was a severe shortfall when it came to express their genetic traits.

A buck with a 'goat like' horn.

Another variation, rarely found in the wild.

Most of the subordinate males were deformed in one way or the other. The horns were mutilated or abnormally spiraled. The coat not perfectly coffee coloured as it should be in the case of an adult. Probably, the entire herds belonged to the same stock and were repeatedly in-bred, as the Zoo Vet explained. Owing to the same reason the authorities had decided to keep check of all such stock and were carrying out birth control.