Prayagraj’s blackbuck population has risen to 604, bringing encouraging news for wildlife conservation in Uttar Pradesh. The latest figures highlight the importance of protecting the Meja landscape, where these graceful antelopes live within a designated conservation area and neighbouring villages.
Population Increases Over Four Years
The population increased from 508 in 2022 to 604 in 2026—a net rise of 96 animals, or approximately 19%.
The Forest Department’s survey, conducted between April and August, covered Chand Khamariya and Mahuli Kala within the protected area, along with surrounding locations. The total therefore represents the wider surveyed landscape, rather than animals confined entirely within the protected boundary.
Blackbucks Depend on Areas Beyond the Boundary
The survey recorded 121 blackbucks in Mahuli Kala and 47 in Chand Khamariya. Substantial numbers were also found in neighbouring areas, including 122 in Itwa Kala and 114 in Kihuni Kala.
This distribution suggests that conservation planning needs to account for the surrounding countryside as well as the designated protected area. Safeguarding places used by the herds will require cooperation between wildlife authorities and neighbouring communities.
Human Disturbance Remains a Challenge
Despite the increase, pressures persist. Growing dog numbers and human activity associated with livestock grazing and agricultural work have been identified as concerns in and around the protected area.
These challenges underline the need for continued monitoring and measures to reduce disturbance wherever blackbucks occur.
Sustaining the Progress
The rise to 604 offers a positive conservation signal. Maintaining that progress will depend on protecting the wider landscape and addressing the pressures faced by herds both inside and outside the designated area.
Prayagraj’s experience carries a practical message: conservation must follow the animals’ actual distribution, with neighbouring villages playing an important role in their future.
Sources: The Times of India; Dainik Jagran.
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