Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary

Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary

Ranebennur Blackbuck Sanctuary (119 km²) was declared as a sanctuary mainly to protect blackbucks. It comprises two unconnected portions, an eastern and a western bit. The sanctuary has a core zone of 14.87 km² and a buffer-cum tourism zone of 104.13 km². The area is covered mainly by scrub forest and Eucalyptus plantations, and is also inhabited by the highly endangered Great Indian Bustard and the wolf. However, the Great Indian Bustard has not been sighted in the sanctuary since around 2002 and may be locally extinct. Blackbuck are plentiful with a count of more than 6000 in the 2005 census. Agricultural fields surround the sanctuary. The best time to visit is between October and March for observing the blackbuck, while the bustard is sighted from February to June.