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How Kanha Saved the Barasingha From Extinction

Kanha National Park is in Madhya Pradesh and is one of the most beautiful wildlife destinations in India. This park has a huge forest area and is the perfect place for wild animals. It gives the perfect habitat for animals like swamp deer, tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and gaurs. There is one animal that is very close to Kanha’s heart - the Barasingha, also known as the “swamp deer.” Today, Kanha is known as the only place in the world where the Barasingha population has not only survived but also grown successfully. 

There is an amazing story behind the swamp deer conservation in Kanha. Many people come to enjoy a safari in Kanha, but they don’t know the story behind animals protection of this spot. Let’s know how this park saved the endangered subspecies of hard-ground barasingha. Years ago, the population of this animal went so low that they were almost lost forever. From the blog, you can learn how Kanha National Park saved the Barasingha from extinction. 

The Barasingha - Pride of Kanha

The word Barasingha means 12-tined antlers, and it is given to a species of deer. Barasingha have beautiful golden-brown fur and long antlers that make them look very royal. These animals are shy in nature, and they love being in the grasslands and marshy areas. They are herbivorous animals and mainly eat grass and plants. Years ago, Barasingha was found in many parts of central India, but slowly their population began declining. The number of Barasingha kept becoming lower and lower, and the forest department realized that this unique deer might disappear completely if nothing was done to save it.

Why They Were Dying 

The population of Barasingha in central India was declining due to several reasons:

1. Loss of Grasslands

Barasingha is a species of deer that likes living in open grassland areas. The village areas began spreading more and more, and because of that, the forest changed, and gradually the grassland disappeared. As the grasslands became smaller, they lost their main food source and could not survive 

2. Disease 

Cattle from the villages often go to the grassland area of the forest for grazing. Sometimes, they carried diseases that spread to Barasingha, because of which they became sick and died. Since the swamp deer lived close to these cattle, the diseases spread quickly and affected many of them. 

3. Hunting 

Many years ago, hunting was a common sport, and many Kings and Britishers did it as a sport. Barasingha were hunted for meat, and this reduced their numbers. Many people hunted the Swamp deer even for their antlers. At that time, hunting was not banned because of which the Barasingha became critically endangered. 

4. Risks from Tiger Attacks

Tigers are carnivorous animals, and Barasingha is one of their natural prey. In a normal forest cycle, this is not a problem. But when the Barasingha population was already low, losing even one mattered a lot. The tiger specially attacked the young species of deer because they could not run fast or protect themselves. 

How Kanha Brought the Barasingha Back

By the 1960s, the population of Barasingha was dangerously low. It is said that in 1967, only around 66 of them were left in the entire Kanha National Park. Every nature lover and wildlife enthusiast became worried that these beautiful animals might become extinct. 

Seeing this problematic situation, the government and the forest department decided to take strong action. Kanha National Park became a big conservation area with a goal to save the Barasingha before it is too late. The forest officers, rangers, scientists, villagers, and wildlife experts all came together to help.

Hunting Banned: 

The first step that Kanha took was the complete banning of hunting. Now, anyone caught hunting was punished, and all the weapons of hunting were removed. Under this, strict patrolling started inside the park during the day and night. 

Villages Shifted: 

The villages were shifted outside the park area, and a new grassland area grew gradually. The forest department stopped the allowance of cattle from grazing inside the forest. Slowly, the grassland area became greener, and the  Barasingha finally got their natural home back.

Disease Control: 

To control the disease, the forest officers made sure that diseases from cattle no longer spread to the Barasingha. For this, they stopped the cattle from going inside the park and monitored the health of the swamp deer regularly. The officials worked with veterinarians to prevent infections. 

Community Involvement: 

Nearby villagers were educated and encouraged to support the conservation of the Barasingha and other animals of Kanha National Park. Jobs were given to them, and many of the villagers became forest guides, guards, and workers. Their support was extremely important in saving the species.

Tiger Attack Protection: 

When the population was very small, even one death was a big loss. So Kanha created safe spaces for the mother and newborn swamp deer. Some secure breeding zones were made where tigers could not enter, and they released the younger deer when they grew strong. This reduced natural predation and helped the population grow.

Breeding Programs: 

A scientific breeding project was introduced where the expert trained the staff about keeping an eye on the Barasingha day and night. They were told to record the births and deaths, and also they were told to make sure that the newborn survives. This program was extremely successful and became famous worldwide.

The Result of Conservation 

The results of these methods didn't come immediately. But with continuous efforts and conservation, the few remaining Barasinngha started reproducing safely. The new grassland area of the park gave them enough food, and the protection ensured that the Barasingha were not disturbed by poachers or other animals. From only the 66 individuals, this park has grown to more than 800  now. The Kanha National Park is now the only spot where the population of Hard-ground Barasingha is seen. 

To see them, a lot of people come from different parts of the world and enjoy a safari in Kanha National Park. Whenever someone visits Kanha and sees the golden Barasingha, it inspires them that if humans decide to protect nature, they can even save a dying species and bring it back to life again.