BEWITCHING BHETNOI
After savouring the boundless beauty of Mangalajodi, I was keen to explore other adjoining places, especially Bhetnoi. I casually mentioned it to Mr Bhujbal and with much enthusiasm he said that he would join me in the trip the next day. We started early for a two hour long drive to Bhetnoi village and reached the home of the sarpanch of the village who has been responsible for initiating conservation of blackbucks in the area. He told us that though it was not the season, there are herds of blackbucks still around and sent his neighbour along with us. We drove to the outskirts of the village and stopped at the foothills of a small hillock. At a distance there were specks which on closer examination were a group of blackbucks. Myself and the villager got down from the car and made our way across a nullah towards the herd. By this time, the sun was up and the heat was considerable. To ensure that the blackbucks were not startled by our presence, we advanced in fits and starts. What a wonderful sight it was!! A big flock of blackbucks were roaming around the field. They grazed, fought, played in front of my eyes. I just sat there and was so spellbound that at times I forgot to press the shutter, missing opportunities to capture some unique moments. In spite of the blazing sun and the thorny undergrowth it was quintessential peak experience. I spent more than an hour and a half just soaking in the wonderful scene and made my way back to the car only after the herd was heading away.
The Blackbucks of Bhetnoi area are protected religiously by the local society. The belief that the presence of Blackbuck in the paddy fields brings prosperity to the local villager has contributed greatly to the conservation of this species. The villagers do not kill the animal even if it strays into the fields and grazes their crop. As the story goes more than a century ago, there had a long spell of drought in the locality. During this period, a small group of Blackbuck appeared in the area and then there was rain and the drought spell was broken. Since then people started protecting these animals passionately as they feel that their fate is linked with these blackbucks. Contrast this with the attitude of those who still hunt for them, but manage to get away from justice (aka Salman Khan).
The Blackbucks of Bhetnoi area are protected religiously by the local society. The belief that the presence of Blackbuck in the paddy fields brings prosperity to the local villager has contributed greatly to the conservation of this species. The villagers do not kill the animal even if it strays into the fields and grazes their crop. As the story goes more than a century ago, there had a long spell of drought in the locality. During this period, a small group of Blackbuck appeared in the area and then there was rain and the drought spell was broken. Since then people started protecting these animals passionately as they feel that their fate is linked with these blackbucks. Contrast this with the attitude of those who still hunt for them, but manage to get away from justice (aka Salman Khan).