A protracted-neglected parcel of land inside Guindy National Park is set to be restored. Known because the Polo Ground — named after its use throughout British rule when timber have been cleared for polo matches — the realm has since turn into overrun with invasive plant species. Despite its situation, it stays an necessary habitat for blackbucks.
The Guindy National Park is among the few protected areas in the center of town and offers a refuge for each noticed deer and blackbucks. Blackbucks, in explicit, depend upon open grasslands to survive.
Within the Guindy National Park-IIT-Raj Bhavan complicated, the Polo Ground is the one important open house obtainable for them to graze. Grasslands are in any other case scarce and inconsistently distributed throughout the park.
Efforts at the moment are underway to revive this habitat. According to Manish Meena, Wildlife Warden of Chennai, a four-hectare part of the Polo Ground is being restored. Invasive species, together with Mexican grass, have already been eliminated, and 7 native grass species might be planted. Additionally, legume species might be launched to improve soil fertility.
Ecologist and conservationist R.J. Ranjit Daniels welcomed the initiative, calling it “a very good move”, because the grasslands are vital for the survival of blackbucks. He famous that in different elements of the nation, like Rajasthan, blackbucks have interaction in “lek mating”—a habits the place males collect to carry out aggressive shows and courtship rituals. However, such habits has not been noticed in Guindy National Park, presumably due to restricted open house.
Published – April 10, 2025 09:19 pm IST
