To the surprise of many, after almost over six decades a Nilgai was sighted in Muthodi Range of Bhadra Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, on Friday. According to forest staff the lone, healthy Nilgai, was seen walking on the safari road in the tourism zone of the Bhadra Tiger reserve a terrain not suitable for the Nilgais. As for the statistics goes a Nilgai was found in the State was way back in 1952 in Kundakere range (bordering Satyamangalam forests) of Bandipur National Park. The animal, however, was never found again. Many are questioning how a Nilgai was found in Karnataka forest which is not at all suitable for Nilgai.

According to HC Kantharaj, conservator of Forests in the Bhadra Tiger Reserve, it was a great surprise to see an adult healthy Nilgai after a gap of over six decades. “We have one of the highest population of Tigers and Leopards here. Nilgai is an easy target for the predators. We will be observing the Nilgai for some more days. We have camera traps everywhere and will be observing the animal.”

But wildlife activists feel that the terrain was very much unsuitable for Nilgai and a surprise to see the animal in a habitat that is semi-evergreen to moist deciduous.

Wildlife activist G Veeresh raises a question as to how the animal came to Muthodi which has a habitat totally unsuitable for it. He says the animal might have escaped the poachers who transport Nilgai from the north to other States for meat.

However, the century old Mysuru zoo has a healthy captive population of 70 to 80 animals which has multiplied over a period of time. In January last year, a group of hunters were found hunting in Muthodi territorial range and cases were booked against 23 hunters.

Nilgai is Asia’s largest antelope found in dry regions of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and in some parts of Andhra Pradesh. But in the south, this species has never been found in wildlife habitat. The Union Ministry of Environment & Forests on the request of some of the State Governments declared Nilgai as vermin as the increasing population of Nilgai was destroying crops.

In another development the century old the Mysuru Zoo has received birds and animals from Assam and Meghalaya Zoos under the animal exchange programme. As per the direction of the Central Zoo Authority of India the Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden has sent great white pelicans, brahminy shell duck, barking deer, four-horned antelope, brow antlered deer and leopard cat while Shillong Zoo, Meghalaya has sent Himalayan black bear.

The birds and animals were brought to Mysore Zoo for enrichment of animal collection of the Zoo, conservation and breeding. In exchange the Mysuru Zoo has sent Bengal Tiger, Black Buck and common Peafowl.