Bhubaneswar: The Forest department will release as many as 50 to100 blackbucks on experimental basis into the wild to increase their numbers in Chandaka wildlife sanctury.
The Forest department said more number of blackbucks will be relocated later.
Though, the population of blackbucks increased to 4,082 in the state, the authorities are planning to relocate the endangered species into various forests including Chandaka.
According to the census, the number of blackbucks rose to 4,082 in Balipadar-Bhetnoi area of Ganjam district this year from 3,806 in 2014-15 and 2,100 in 2011-12.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) (Wildlife) Sandeep Tripathy recently said that the blackbucks will be shifted to Puri and Chandaka forest divisions.