Meet Endangered Blackbucks in Pakistan

As Pakistan is on the rise to promote tourism and conserve wildlife, the world’s most endangered blackbucks dwell in Lal Suhanra National Park in the Bahawalpur District of Punjab Province.

The park is considered one of the largest national parks in South Asia.

It is repleted with wildlife including wild cats, rabbits, swords, deer, lizards, snakes, cobras, eagles, hawks, donkeys, Russian eagles, birds, as well as aquatic animals (fish, turtles) in ponds and lakes.

The Punjab government had planned to set up a standard safari park to create a natural environment for wild animals.

The national park was established in 1972 with the savings of children from the United States (US) and the Netherlands.

The black deer was brought to Pakistan in response to an appeal from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Since then, the antelopes have been a center of attraction for visitors.

The tradition of hunting and the unavailability of natural habitat brought blackbucks close to extinction in Pakistan.

As per official figures, in 1947, the number of blackbucks was 80,000 which declined to 8,000 in 1964.

Talking to News360, a local who lives near Lal Suhanra National Park told there were 292 black deers in the enclosure provided with a natural environment for breeding.

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Indian antelope is known for owning a style similar to the Nawabs, who ruled in the former state of Bahawalpur.

The weight of male deer ranges between 34-45 kilogram (kg) whereas, for female deer, it is 31-39 kg, slightly shorter than the males.

In addition to it, Pakistan, Nepal, and India are the homeland of blackbucks. So far, only 13 antelopes breeding centers have been set up around the world.

Out of 13, the two centers include Kirthar National Park located between Karachi and Hyderabad, and Lal Suhanra National Park near Bahawalpur.