The Buck Stops Here | Blackbucks of the Golden Grasslands | Indian Wildlife | @RoundglassSustain

It's a dusty morning and young black-buck males are locking horns. The territory they are fighting for will belong to the victor this breeding season. He will guard it and allow only females to enter during this period. With their magnificent twisted headgear, the males blend in with the scanty prosopis forest. While females wear a caramel coat all their lives, the male's coat turns glossy black with age. Black bucks are native to the Indian subcontinent. They're found in Pakistan, Nepal and across 13 states of India. They thrive in dry grasslands, edge of desert and even in green open woodlands. Many are seen grazing on the margins of farms. But the black buck's favourite home is the rolling grasslands. A habitat that's being rapidly destroyed. It's summer in the Deccan plateau. In the soaring heat, animals travel long distances for a drink. Black bucks need water every day and their presence is a sign of water nearby. And where there is water and prey, predators follow. The Indian wolf is one such predator. Wolves hunt in packs, traversing vast stretches. And today, they are hungry. A herd of female black bucks is an open invitation. But this hunt will not be easy. These antelopes are fast and can clock up to 80 kilometers per hour. The pack of wolves closes in. The herd makes a run for their lives. But one fawn cannot keep up. Antelopes play an important role in the ecosystem. From being prey for predators to feeding on plants and keeping their growth in check. They keep the food chain sustainable. Large herds would graze in these open plains. But now, groups of more than 30 to 50 are rare. Without black bucks sprinting around our golden grasslands, the delicate balance of this ecosystem will be disrupted. If grasslands succumb to pressures of development, an entire ecosystem and a way of life will be erased.