20 blackbucks released in Gujarat’s Banni grasslands on Independence Day

The Gujarat Forest Department, with technical support from the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC), Vantara, released 20 blackbucks into the Banni Grasslands on India’s 80th Independence Day. The group comprised five males and 15 females, transferred from Vantara in Jamnagar after approvals from the Chief Wildlife Warden and the Central Zoo Authority. The animals underwent health screening, quarantine and disease surveillance before translocation.

Officials said the initiative aims to restore the grassland’s native herbivore community, which historically included blackbuck, chinkara, nilgai and wild boar. Chief Wildlife Warden Dr Jaipal Singh called restoring native wildlife fundamental to healthy landscapes. The release is part of a wider Gujarat programme approved by the Union environment ministry for translocation of 500 blackbucks and 100 chinkaras in the state. The Banni Grassland Forest Division has sought Vantara’s technical assistance for the broader programme, including specialised vehicles and veterinary expertise.