Beastly times for India's blue bull

By Narayan Bareth in Jaipur

The government in the western Indian state of Rajasthan has relaxed rules relating to the hunting of a protected animal found in abundant numbers in the region.

According to the Indian Wildlife Act, it is illegal for the creature, an antelope known as the blue bull, to be hunted unless special authorisation was granted by state wildlife officials.

The decision to relax these rules is in response to complaints by farmers about the loss of crops due to increased grazing by blue bulls.

Numbers swelled

The state's chief wildlife officer, RG Soni, told the BBC that farmers can now approach junior state government officials for permission to hunt the blue bull.

Only senior officers were previously allowed to authorise the hunting of this animal.

Blue bulls

Dubbed 'blue cow' by Emperor Aurangzeb to prevent large-scale slaughter

Ungainly horse-like appearance

Skin has a bluish tinge

Runs faster than a horse

The issue has been raised several times in the state assembly, with many legislators complaining that the animal - which is now increasing in numbers - is damaging crops.

The forest department says the blue bull's numbers have risen to almost 200,000 in Rajasthan alone.

On the move

The reason for this, they say, is because many blue bulls have moved to non-forest areas, where the chance of them being attacked by predators is reduced.

Although the animal is listed under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, its not officially an endangered species.

That means individual states can give permission for people to hunt it if the state administration deems it necessary.

Forest officials say they have been petitioning the central government to remove the blue bull from the wildlife act so that it is no longer mandatory to register a case when the animal is killed.