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| blackbuck in Ranebennur |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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 19th 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
19th and late 20th 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.
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| The Sanctuary |
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