Pune, India – The forest department in Pune has raised concerns regarding the increasing number of blackbuck deaths resulting from road accidents, particularly in the grassland areas of Solapur. Over the past few years, the department has noted a rise in fatalities due to collisions as well as poaching, largely attributed to the construction of highways that have disrupted the migratory routes of these animals.
In 2020, the department recorded six blackbuck deaths, with factors including road accidents and illegal hunting. Subsequently, there was a lull in such cases due to reduced vehicular traffic during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in 2023, a resurgence in blackbuck deaths was observed, with 15 animals perishing in three separate road accidents. One of the most tragic incidents occurred on January 28, when 13 blackbucks lost their lives on the Solapur-Bijapur highway after falling 35 feet downhill while attempting to cross the newly constructed Kegaon-Degaon bypass.
According to officials, the number of deaths has notably increased along key highways such as Pune-Solapur and Solapur-Kolhapur, where multiple highways now intersect blackbuck corridors, disrupting their natural habitats. Deputy conservator of forests Tushar Chavan highlighted that blackbucks follow specific migratory paths for water and food, which have been impacted by recent highway constructions.
In response to the escalating issue, the forest department has implemented various measures to mitigate risks to the blackbuck population. These efforts include the creation of waterholes that can hold up to 5,000 liters of water in their original habitats and the cultivation of grass species favored by the blackbucks to reduce the need for migration. Additionally, proposals for overpasses, underpasses, and opaque fences along animal corridors have been suggested to protect the species from further harm.
Recently, there have been reports of other highway-related incidents, such as landslides blocking the Jammu-Srinagar national highway and proposals to establish designated truck parking areas and petrol pumps along major roadways. Moreover, the introduction of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) in India, aimed at providing faster critical care to accident victims on highways, has garnered interest from various states, with Bhopal launching integrated air ambulance services aligned with the Ayushman Bharat Yojna.
Overall, the challenges faced by wildlife due to highway development underscore the importance of balancing infrastructure needs with environmental conservation efforts to protect vulnerable species like the blackbuck.