KATHMANDU, NOV 09 - Despite blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra), a protected species of Nepal, slightly gaining in numbers, experts and conservationists are worried about its possible genetic erosion.
Genetic erosion is the decrease in the genetic variability, that is, the population of a species loses its diversity in its genes, resulting in inferior individuals that are vulnerable to diseases, susceptible to slight changes in the environment, and individuals that are not capable of reproducing as equally as their healthy counterparts.
It is thought that the gene level study to determine the genetic erosion is not possible in Nepal.
Professor Dayananda Bajracharya, Vice-Chancellor of Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST) says, "Genetic study varies according to the methodology applied by the researchers. However general genetic study to determine the genetic erosion of blackbucks can be conducted in Nepal".
The possible genetic erosion can be controlled or reduced by cross breeding the species with other ancestral groups.
Translocation of blackbucks from Central Zoo could also be an option but the costs thereby incurred is far beyond the capability of the zoo.
Director of Central Zoo, RK Shrestha, said, "Translocation of blackbucks may help to reduce the genetic erosion as the animals at the zoo are from different ancestors, but donor agencies seem to have no interest on translocating captive animals".
Another problem with the blackbucks at the zoo is that the population at zoo is also suspected to be genetically eroded. Hinting that the individuals at the zoo could be genetically eroded, Dr Binab Karmacharya, the zoo veterinarian said, "The neonatal mortality rate of the blackbucks at zoo is very high". However, in the absence of any scientific study, he declined to reach any conclusion.
Dr Pralhad Yonzon, a noted wildlife biologist, has a different opinion. "In conservation field the real challenge begins after translocation but in our context the task completes immediately after translocation". He satirically remarked over the past efforts of blackbuck translocation from zoo to the wild. In the few attempts made to reintroduce the blackbucks from the zoo none of the captive individuals survived in the wild.Posted on: 2003-11-08 08:30

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