2.6.09

Somewhere in Rajasthan....


The recent spate of unexpected downpours accompanied by thunderstorms has come as a ‘rude shock’ to the endangered black bucks of the Tal Chappar sanctuary in Churu district. According to reports about 70 black bucks have died in the sanctuary due to the weather shock. State chief wildlife warden, R N Mehrotra said, “The victims were mostly the old and the infants. The reason behind the deaths has been identified as a ‘shock’ due to a sudden change in weather. Post mortem of about 50 carcasses has been conducted and a threemember team of doctors has been deputed to search for the dead animals, he added. The Tal Chappar sanctuary, located on the fringes of the Thar desert, is home to about 2,000 black bucks. Black bucks are a fast-breeding variety that breeds twice a year. About 200-300 antelopes are born every year. As a result, a large number of this rare species were in the sanctuary, when the rains hit. Deputy conservator of forests K C Sharma, who is the incharge of the sanctuary, said “It has been raining heavily every day since May 28. The torrential rain a shock wave among the animals.” He said the team of doctors are searching for the dead while, vaccinations have been administered to some of the animals who are still in a state of shock. Sharma said it is unusual for the animals to experience so much rain at this time of the year. “We expect to find more bodies as bad weather conditions continue. The picture would get clear once the rain stops,” he said.

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