On the 20th anniversary of the saola's discovery, conservationists say the population of the reclusive species has dropped dramatically

Wild saola caught on a camera-trapped in Bolikhamxay Province, central Laos
An 'Asian unicorn' or saola caught on a camera-trapped in Bolikhamxay Province, central Laos in 1999. Photograph: William Robichaud/WWF International

Poaching in Vietnam and Laos may be driving the "Asian unicorn" to extinction, warns the WWF on the twentieth anniversary of its discovery.

New Delhi: Stray dogs entered the Delhi zoo on Tuesday night, got into the enclosure for the chinkara and killed four of the fleet-footed antelopes. The dogs, two in number, were captured on Wednesday morning. Zoo sources said the chinkara, a relatively small animal also known as the Indian gazelle, were bitten in the head, neck and shoulder. All four died of shock. The carcasses were discovered in the morning.

As many as 50 blackbuck have been shifted to Kanha Tiger reserve, nearly a decade after they became extinct in what is considered one of the finest wildlife areas. The antelopes have been quarantined in an enclosure and would be released in the wild between 45 and 60 days, Park director J S Chouhan told The Indian Express. The park had recorded the antelope’s highest population of 50 several decades ago before it started dwindling and became nil nearly a decade ago.

A record number of big-game animals perished this winter in parts of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming from a harsh season of unusually heavy snows and sustained cold in the Northern Rockies, state wildlife managers say.

"Elk, deer and moose -- those animals are having a pretty tough time," said Wyoming Game and Fish biologist Doug Brimeyer.

Snow and frigid temperatures in pockets of Idaho, Montana

Illegal hunting and inadequate resources available to the Wildlife Department are threatening the existence of `chinakara`, a beautiful antelope species of Indian gazelle or in Thar desert.

Frequent droughts and loss of habitats are other problems the endangered species of gazelle is facing.

There appears to be no well-defined conservation strategy although chinakara is enlisted in the Red D

In order to mitigate the problem of crop damage due to the over abundant population of Nilgai antelopes (blue bulls) and wild boars, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to allow the farmers to shoot down these animals.

Madhya Pradesh forest minister Sartaj Singh informed the state Assembly about the decision to allow the culling of blue bulls and wild boars during the discussion on his de

Praveen Paul Joseph

Reservoir strengthened, towers erected and men deployed to check poaching

Safe GROUND:A blackbuck resting at Vallanad Sanctuary in Tuticorin district.

Tuticorin: Since blackbucks (Antelope cervicapra) are considered as endangered species, efforts are being made to protect and conserve them in the natural habitat.

To protect the reducing population of blackbucks, ade

- Two-year programme to boost endangered four-horned antelope, Indian giant squirrel count

In Numbers game: Indian giant squirrel and four-horned antelope

Ranchi, July 15: Birsa Munda Zoological Park is all set to chip in to save endangered wildlife.

Hyderabad, July 4: The outbreak of a bacterial infection has killed a Chowsingha (four horned antelopes) and two Barasinghas (swamp deer) at the Nehru Zoological Park. Veterinary pathologists found bacterial lesions on the animal caracas. A zoo official said,

Close to 100 antelopes have perished in the region comprising Jodhpur and Barmer districts of Rajasthan in the past week with a senior forest official citing dehydration as the possible reason for the deaths.