25 blackbucks rescued from flood waters in two days

Rajkot: At least 25 blackbucks have been rescued from floods waters in Bhal region near Velavadar in Bhavnagar district since Wednesday morning. However, carcasses of eight blackbucks were recovered from the same region during the same period. While five were found on Wednesday, three others were recovered on Thursday, said forest officials.
According to forest officials, most of the animals fell prey to stray or wild dogs. Six of the eight found dead were killed by dogs, they added.
The rescues operations began on Wednesday as the flood waters started receding. A team of 25 from the forest department were involved in the operation.
Assistant conservator of forest M H Trivedi said, “Our staff had to wade through waist-deep waters to rescue the blackbucks. Our main concern was to protect them schedule I animal (under Wildlife Protection Act) from dog attacks.”
“We got good cooperation from local villagers who also helped us in protecting the blackbucks, that were under trauma,” he added.
The blackbucks that had suffered injuries due to dog attack were given medical treatment in the nearby farms soon after rescue from flood waters.
Flooding of government wasteland near the Velavadar Wildlife Sanctuary has become a regular feature during the monsoon. It is mainly because of the bunds created by salt pan owners to store seawater.
Forest officials said that because of the bunds the rain water does not naturally flow into the sea and gets accumulated in the wasteland area where many blackbucks are found.
Nearly 20,000 acres of government wasteland is being used for salt cultivation.