Ranebennur- A futile attempt to save Indian Bustard

blackbuck in Ranebennur

My guide - Mr. Satish

Ranebennur is a small town with beautiful outskirts located in Haveri district of Karanataka. Ranebennur is known for a protected forest area for blackbuck, the most hunted animal in Indian history. It was a gloomy grey monsoon day that I visited Ranebennur. The monsoon clouds escaped from the high peaks of Western Ghats were roaming around the dark grey open fields. Farmers and bulls are in full energy to till the land for next cultivation. Lone folks of Ibis and storks showed beginning of monsoon migration. After 5kms deviation from Mumbai –Bangalur Highway the signs of Ranebennur sanctuary appeared. (I started my journey of the day from Hubli). The drive continued through farmland interspersed with thorny scrub forest after the city. The office of the assistant Conservator of forest and Wildlife is located in a small enclave with bushes and trees.  I met the assistant conservator, who is an enthusiastic knowledgeable person. He was disappointed with the government support to managing the sanctuary. There is no income from tourism; hence there is no development activity. Even the conservation activities are in poor condition. There is no specific programme for eco-tourism. The conservator helped me to find a forest watcher to accompany me in the forest. Mr. Sathish, a forest watcher who is a member of ranger’s squad accompanied me. Even it was not a good time to visit a sanctuary, I was happy to see the forests and birds.

A lapwing 

We entered the sanctuary through eastern gate of the sanctuary, few kms away from the forest office. During the drive through muddy jeep track, I noticed many common species of birds, traits of black buck, rock agama etc before spotting a pair of spot billed duck in a lake. We spotted few blackbucks, male, female and juvenile. Though it was the beginning of rutting of the blackbuck, I didn’t see any.

galloping 

We saw few of them grazing in the grassland. They suddenly vanished in the bushes. They were even afraid of people standing in the watchtower. Satish told me that there are seven thousand blackbucks in the sanctuary.  I am surprised why they are so shy inside the forest. I had good sighting of them in Shvalaya at Badami, Davangare etc. While travelling from Bangalore to Hubli by train, one can easily spot blackbucks in farms. 

Later in our drive I found a group of Lambadi women collecting wood from the forest. It was really annoying the presents of lambadi tribal men and women with folks of goats moving inside the sanctuary with their dogs. I have bad experience from their dogs in Soole Gund and Badami. They are well trained hunters too.

We stopped in grassland, where I noticed a sign board ‘Proposed Great Indian Bustard Rehabilitation Plot’ 300 Hector. 

Bustard rehabilitation plot

I heard that, Ranebennur was the last place of Great Indian Bustard in South India. It is my ‘lifetime target species’. The Great Indian Bustard is the heaviest flying bird. Dry arid grassland and open places are its natural habitat. Once it was common in dry arid open land of India and Pakistan. Due to heavy hunting and habitat loss this mighty bird is locally extinct in most of its habitats, left the species in the edge of mass extinction. Now its population in India is less than 250 individuals. Early naturalist noted that Bustard shares its habitat with blackbuck.
The Bombay Gazetteer of Dharawar District in 19^th centaury described that Ranebennur supporting Indian Bustard and blackbuck. Though Bustards were hunted from time immemorial, its population survived in healthy ecosystem. Early hunters were used trapping method, which was sustainable in that period. After the invention of guns, jeeps etc the acceleration of hunting was in its high momentum. Between early 19^th and late 20^th century 90% of its population hunted down to 250 individuals. Agricultural revolution and plantations accelerated the destruction of habitat. - Benny Kurian @ Kerala Geographic Adventures

Extensive hunting and shrinking habitats, wiped of this birds from most of its habitats. In south India, Ranebennur has the last record of bustard. In 1970s Mr.S.G Neginhal (IFS), a former forest officer took a photo of this bird’s egg from Ranebennur sanctuary. Probably that was the only record of Bustard in South India. He beautifully explained his experience in bustard habitat in his book ‘Sanctuaries and Wildlife of Karnataka’. Probably he took his photo from this grassland, I enquired about the present status of the bird to Satish. The poor guy did not even spotted bustard .While enquiring about that dream bird; the conservator desperately explained that the last bird was reported in 2003. Though efforts are going on for recreating a grassland habitat to attract Bustard, no bustard left in the area. I don’t believe that in future it is not going to happen. The efforts are in vain due to many reasons. First of all, since the Lambady and other local people are allowed to graze in the sanctuary, the bird could not survive, even if there is one. Secondly the grasslands, perfect habitat of bustard, are shrinking due to Eucalyptus plantations and lantana growth.

 Any way Ranebennur forests and landscapes are beautiful. It will be more potential for animals and birds in winter. Satish told me that, Stripped Hyena, Indian Wolf, fox, jackal etc are living in this forest. I left the forest after saying goodbye to Satish. I wish for a pair of bustard will come and found their old home soon in Ranebennur.

The Sanctuary