Raviraj Soman here. I want to tell you a story about hope.
In the 1960s, the Hard-ground Barasingha (Swamp Deer) of Kanha was a ghost walking towards the grave. There were fewer than 66 individuals left in the wild. The world had all but written them off. Habitat loss and poaching had pushed the "Jewel of Kanha" to the edge.
The Turnaround
But Kanha’s forest department refused to give up. They launched one of the most intensive species recovery programs in history.
- Habitat Management: They cleared grasslands and removed invasive weeds to give the deer their food back.
- Predator Proofing: They built specialized enclosures to protect mothers and fawns from tigers until the numbers stabilized.
- Village Relocation: They created disturbance-free zones in the core meadows.
The Resurrection
Today, there are over 800 Barasingha in Kanha. They have even been successfully translocated to Satpura and Bandhavgarh to create satellite populations. To see a herd of these golden deer grazing in the morning mist of Kanha is to witness a miracle.
This story proves that if we give nature half a chance—and a helping hand—it can bounce back. Extinction is not always inevitable.
Keep the faith,
- Raviraj Soman
