Bollywood’s superstar Salman Khan is behind bars. The blackbuck poaching case has left him guilty in the eyes of the law. Salman has been sentenced to a five year jail term along with a fine of Rs.10,000. However, other accused such as Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu have been let go free. It all started with the hunting of blackbucks during the shoot of the film ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’. 

But inevitably another question arises in our minds as to what makes blackbucks so valuable that it has lead to imprisonment of a leading personlaity in the film space. Here’s what you should know.

The beautiful blackbucks are usually found in India, Pakistan, Nepal, America. Their population decreased from a whopping 40 lakhs to a mere 80,000 post 19th century. After it was found that there were only 25,000 blackbucks surviving in 1970, the Wildlife Protection Act was brought to save these creatures and give them the maximum protection.

Blackbucks also find a great deal of importance among some communities like the Bishnoi. It was the Bishnoi community which filed a case against Salman Khan and even celebrated the actor’s verdict by bursting crackers.

Apart from being a food product for one of the world’s oldest civilisation(Indus Valley civilsation), blackbucks also have a prominent space in mythology. Going by them, blackbucks were utilised in the chariots of Lord Krishna and also considered to be the vehicles of Vayu (the wind God) and Chandra (the moon God) as well. 

Whatever it is, blackbucks are truly a mesmerising beauty of nature. And whatever needs to be done to protect these wonderful species of mother nature is of paramount importance.