DHAMBOJHI: Blackbuck, a rare wildlife found in Khairapur of Gularia Municipality-2 in Bardiya district, is on the verge of disappearance.

About 32 years ago, the population of blackbucks in Nepal was 600 which has now declined to 184. Blackbuck, also popularly known as Krishnasar, is among the 16 wild species banned for hunting in Nepal.

Growing population density and increasing incidents of poaching are key factors posing challenges to the efforts for conserving the wildlife, shared Tilak Sharma Himal, a parliamentarian from Province 5.

Only five blackbucks, two male and three female, were found in Patahakhairapur of Gulariya-2 in 1976. The then Royal Karnali Hunting Reserve had conserved the antelope.

Now the area of 708 bighas has been arranged for blackbucks. Around Rs 18 million was spent for the arrangement of habitat for the rare species.

The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) has been providing support in the conservation effort of blackbucks in Bardiya.