The animal has been recorded repeatedly through surveillance cameras deployed by the Karnataka Forest Department after villagers reported pugmarks, livestock losses and possible tiger movement in the Gangavathi region. Forest officials have since intensified monitoring across the landscape and deployed personnel around villages where the tiger has been moving.
Since the National Animal Disease Control Programme was launched in 2019, more than 147.16 crore doses of FMD vaccine have been administered across the country, benefiting around 8.04 crore farmers. Reported FMD outbreaks have fallen from 132 in 2019 to 40 in 2025, while Brucellosis outbreaks declined from 22 to 15 during the same period.
The Nagal pig is a familiar part of rural life in many parts of the state, where pig rearing remains closely linked with household livelihoods, food traditions and local agriculture. Until now, however, the breed existed largely as a locally maintained population without a separate national identity.
The breed is principally associated with the Marathwada region of Maharashtra and adjoining northern Karnataka, particularly the wider belt around Latur and Bidar. ICAR’s National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources officially identifies Maharashtra and Karnataka as the home tract of Deoni cattle.
India is home to around 60% of the world’s wild Asian elephant population. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted this global responsibility while marking World Elephant Day on August 12.
There is also an interesting historical dimension to the breed’s name. Tharparkar takes its name from Tharparkar district in Sindh, now in Pakistan, which formed part of undivided India, while its recognised breeding tract in present-day India includes Barmer, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Kutch in Gujarat.
Announcing the achievement on World Lion Day 2026, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said the increase reflects sustained efforts by forest officials, conservationists, frontline workers and local communities involved in protecting the species and its habitat.
The breed developed across the plains of Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and adjoining Rajasthan, an area characterised historically by intensive cultivation, hot summers, seasonal scarcity of fodder and the need for animals capable of performing several functions within a farming household. ICAR’s National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources officially records Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan as the home tract of Hariana cattle.
The National Dairy Development Board classifies Kankrej as a dual-purpose breed used for both milk and draught work. Its native tract extends across parts of northern Gujarat and western Rajasthan, particularly the region surrounding the Rann of Kutch.
Unlike indigenous breeds selected primarily for dairy production, Nagori cattle were shaped by the practical requirements of farmers, traders and transporters living in an arid environment. Their long legs, powerful frame, strong feet and alert temperament enabled them to travel efficiently over hard, sandy and uneven ground.
