India's first ever Blackbuck conservation Reserve to come up in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh cabinet decided to make India's first conservation reserve for black buck in Allahabad's Meja.

A herd of around 350 blackbucks is estimated to be inhabiting the Meja forest division near Allahabad.

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A wildlife conservation reserve dedicated exclusively to the blackbuck is coming up over 126 hectares in the trans-Yamuna region of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. The State cabinet has approved a Blackbuck Conservation Reserve in the Meja forest division that is known for its rocky, undulating and arid terrain.

The U.P. government evoked Section 36 A (1) and (2) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, to declare the conservation reserve.

There are a few national parks and sanctuaries inhabited by blackbuck in the country, like the Velavadar Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat and the Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary in Karnataka. However, there are not many conservation reserves exclusively dedicated to the antelope.

Blackbuck (Brief Information):

The blackbuck, also known as the Indian antelope, is an antelope found in India, Nepal and Pakistan.

The species was described and given its binomial name by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758.

The blackbuck inhabits grassy plains and slightly forested areas. Due to their regular need of water, they prefer areas where water is perennially available.

The antelope is native to and found mainly in India, while it is extinct in Bangladesh. During the 20th century, blackbuck numbers declined sharply due to excessive hunting, deforestation and habitat degradation.

In India, hunting of blackbuck is prohibited under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

The blackbuck has significance in Hinduism; Indian and Nepali villagers do not harm the antelope.