Kanchanpur, May 9 -- The rising blackbuck population in the Shuklaphanta National Park has become both a conservation milestone and a management challenge..

The number of blackbucks, known as Krishnasar in Nepali, in the Hirapur grassland enclosure of the national park has surpassed 300. Besides being a conservation success, it is also testing the park's ability to sustainably manage the herd.

Originally translocated from Khairapur-based blackbuck conservation area in Bardiya and the Nepalgunj Zoo in Banke in 2012 and 2015, the population started with just 42 individuals and now stands at 306. According to the national park authority, there are currently 144 females, 117 males and 45 fawns.

Currently confined within a 60-square-kilomet...