Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is the only representative of genus antilope found in India. It is one of the most graceful animals and used to be seen in thousands at the beginning of this century all throughout the plains of India except the Western coast. Due to extensive poaching and habitat loss, blackbuck populations have been reduced drastically. Now they can be seen in a a few protected areas like the Guindy National park and IITM campus, Point Calimere and Vellanadu Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu and Rollapadu (Andhra Pradesh), Velavadar (Gujarat) and Chilka (Orissa) other than few parts of Rajasthan and Hariyana.

In IIT Madras campus too, their numbers have declined from hundreds in the eighties to less than 20 in 2003. In January 2009, the number has gone up to 21 with many efforts like removal of fences in the academic zone, periodic removal of stary dogs from their habitat area, closing of open wells and pits etc etc. Blackbuck require open grass lands with intermittent tall grass or bushes (for delivery, fawn nursing and to seek protection against predators as well as the rain and wind). This is unlike the spotted deer, which can survive in dense forests and bush jungles. Blackbuck are also very territorial and sensitive to environmental pressures. An adult male blackbuck tries to maintain his territory by marking it and defending it in the rutting season. When the population increases they require adequate space for healthy survival.

Similarly, the female blackbuck requires tall grass or small bushe to delivers fawns (one per year mostly). The fawn will "lie down" during the first one week hidden in the grass/bush and the mother will nurse at few hours interval. The blackbuck fawns are quite weak during the first few weeks and can be easily predated by dogs. Therefore it is very essential to have undisturbed open areas with small bush/tall grass cover for the healthy survival of young blackbuck. The fawn will join the mother and other group members when it is about two weeks old.

Their capability to run at speeds of 70kmph makes them the fastest surviving species on the subcontinent and protects them against most predators alive today. Due to shrinkage and fragmentation of habitat everywhere, the pressure on existing habitats is quite high. This also tells us that it is inappropriate to think of shifting and relocating them elsewhere. In addition, the casualities asssociated with such processes are quite high (see reference, Elizabeth Mungall, Indian Blackbuck). It is important to protect them in distributed and more number of habitats, where ever possible. Today, blackbuck is included in the endangered species list in India (included in Schedule I of Indian Wildlife Act, 1972). Therefore, IITM campus has an important role in protecting the blackbuck in the campus which is their original and native habitat.

The major reasons for the decline of blackbuck population in IITM campus can be attributed to the following:

• Most of the open areas have been used for construction without realizing that blackbuck require open areas and private space for rearing the young (one cannot expect blackbuck to deliver or nurse the fawn in stadium or lawns or where peole move around)
  
• Loss of one of their original and favourite areas, like the erstwhile NCC ground (converted into Sanmar Cricket ground, fenced)
  
• Destruction of native wild plants, grass and herbs without realizing their role in sustaining a species like blackbuck by creating lawns or just by clearing plants annually
  
• Introduction of non-edible, exotic grass species, sprayed with pesticides in the name of lawns is shrinking vital space of the blackbuck further
  
• Fencing of available natural, open areas and creation of concrete parking spaces in many small open areas which used to be blackbuck food sources
  
• Hectic building activities in the campus especially in the prime habitat area during 2004-2006 has affected them heavily due to constrcution activities, presence of large number of workers who uses open areas as toilets, movement of trucks and lorries, presence of construction materials in the open, dumping of huge amounts of construction debris in various places ( a male blackbuck had a broken leg due to this in mid-2006)
  
• Killing by stray dogs. Stray dogs are on the rise in the campus which can be attributed to the availability of waste food disposed in open areas and forests and deforestation leading to urbanisation of different parts of the campus. Dogs do not generall hunt in forest areas with native plants (most of them have good thorns which prevent the dogs)
  
• Speeding vehicles and increasing number of vehicles in the campus. Number of blackbuck killed by vehicles almost matches the numbers killed by stray dogs in the recent years. In 2002, two female black buck (one pregnant) and in 2004 one adult male blackbuck, in 2005 a fawn.... by vehicles. Heavy traffic movement (especially the traffic to the schools located inside the campus) in their habitat is one of the reasons for their drastic decline in the campus.

Though we have only limited area in IIT campus, by judicious planning and willing heart, we can protect this national heritage in our campus.

The decline in population of the blackbuck is an indicator to the environmental degradation that is around us. Typical grass land birds like grey patridge and Hoopoe have almost disappeared from the campus, where as they can be seen in the adjacent GNP. This itself indicates the campus is becoming more and more urbanised and loosing its basic habitat requirements for wildlife like blackbuck and many other species which require less interventions from humans. The pressure on their habitat reflects the pressure that is building up on our own habitat. If we improve their habitat, it will improve our chances of survival on earth too.

To protect an endangered species in an isolated habitat like that of IIT or GNP special care has to be taken. The isolated habitat status makes them all the more vulnerable, unless habitat is maintained according to their survival needs. Taking these into account, if we follow certain simple principles, we may succeed in improving their population to a healthy level. This require participation and support from everyone who is a part of the campus and the local people who supports it.