• Four blackbucks (two females and two males) died of shock and one was left injured after stray dogs attacked them in Pune’s Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park and Wildlife Research Centre.
• The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), also known as the Indian antelope, is an antelope native to India and Nepal.
• It inhabits grassy plains and lightly forested areas with perennial water sources. It stands up to 74 to 84 cm high at the shoulder.
• In India, hunting of blackbuck is prohibited under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
• The blackbuck has significance in Hinduism; Indian and Nepali villagers do not harm the antelope.
• The blackbuck is listed under Appendix III of CITES.

It inhabits several protected areas of India, including

• in Gujarat: Velavadar Wildlife Sanctuary, Gir Forest National Park;
• in Bihar: Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary;
• in Maharashtra: Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary;
• in Madhya Pradesh: Kanha National Park
• in Rajasthan: Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, National Chambal Sanctuary, Ranthambhore National Park
• in Karnataka Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary;
• in Tamil Nadu: Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Vallanadu Wildlife  Sanctuary, Guindy National Park.