Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary

News: After 50 years of local extinction, blackbucks have returned to Chhattisgarh’s Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: It is located in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh.
• Named after: It is named after the Bar and Nawapara forest villages situated in the sanctuary.
• Area covered: The total area of sanctuary covers 244.66 Sq. km.
• Rivers: Three rivers – Balmedhi, Jonk, and Mahanadi – flow through this Sanctuary.
  • The Balamdehi River forms the western boundary and Jonk River forms the north-eastern boundary of the Sanctuary.
• Water sources: The Balar reservoir situated inside the sanctuary supports number of wetland birds and fishes.
• Flora: The sanctuary contains Teak, Sal, Bamboo, and Terminalia as prominent trees, and also includes Semal, Mahua, Ber, and Tendu.
• Fauna: The sanctuary is home to leopards, tigers, Indian bison, nilgai, wild boar, chital (cheetal) etc.
  • It supports about 150 bird species such as parrots, herons, egrets, and peafowl.
• Significance: It is a successful reintroduction site showcasing blackbuck revival and grassland restoration potential.

About Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)

• It is a diurnal antelope of open grasslands in India and Nepal.
• It is a flagship species of grassland ecosystems.
• Protection level:
  • The blackbuck is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List; and
  • It is included in Appendix III of CITES.
• Revival Program: Under the five-year Blackbuck Revival Program (2021–2026) approved by the Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board, the program aims to re-establishing a self-sustaining blackbuck population in the region.