CENSUS STUDY ON BLACK BUCKS ANTILOPE CERVICAPRA (L). IN HULLATHI SECTION OF RANEBENNUR WILDLIFE SANCTUAR

Ranebennur Black Buck Sanctuary is located in Ranebennur Taluk of Haveri District, Karnataka, established for protection of Black bucks and other fauna and flora. The sanctuary is declared vide Government of Karnataka Notification No.AFD-58-PWL-74 dated 17-6-1974 with an area of 119Sq.Km. The Black buck Antilope cervicapra (Linnaeus, 1758) is a member of group of Bovidae native to India. The forest area of this Sanctuary is classified as ''Southern Thorn Forest' as per Champion and Seth's classification in the year (1968), habitats of the sanctuary include scrub, dry deciduous and grassland type with sparse tree vegetation. In India (1982) the estimated populations of blackbucks range from 22,500 to 24,500, as per India Portal Report at the time of independence. The black buck population was estimated to be 80,000 presently; this species is declining in number all over its range in the country. During the field study, populations of black bucks are evaluated and any variation is discussed in this paper. The sanctuary is divided into Four Sections Viz Hullathi, Huniskatti, Hanumapura, and Alalgere. In Hullathi section the study area is divided into Hullathi, Kudrihala, Medleri beats. The sampling was made once on every month for a period of 1 year starting from June 2017 to May 2017 to know the variation in blackbuck density. About 1519 animals were cited in present study area. This Paper highlights the variation in black buck populations and discussed on conservation strategies for them