DPhillips,

India had an abundant Gaur population but it was almost wiped out by a rinderpest epidemic in the early 1980s. They have made a comeback of sorts but hunting them has been banned for mroe than 30 years now. As far as blackbuck are concerned, they are highly endangered in India though several US ranches have managed to breed them successfully enough in semi wilderness conditions and allow very good hunting.

Recently the state of Chhatisgarh sold boar permits to international hunters for the first time in many years at $ 50 a permit. I understand some states have huge Nilgai populations and are planning to allow hunts on pressure from farmers. The system in India is to classify an animal on a crop protection permit for hunting first and then allow non farmers to hunt it if the crop protection licenses don't work.

Best wishes,

Mehul Kamdar.