Nestled near Asika in Ganjam district, Bhetnoi is one of Odisha's most remarkable community-led wildlife conservation stories. Unlike a forest sanctuary, this is a vast stretch of agricultural land where the elegant Blackbuck, locally known as Krushna Mriga, lives in harmony with the farming community. According to local folklore, the Blackbucks first appeared in the area during the Great Odisha Famine of 1868, and their arrival coincided with life-giving rains. Since then, they have been revered as symbols of prosperity and rain, with villagers protecting them for generations, even when the antelopes graze on standing crops. This extraordinary coexistence between humans and wildlife makes Bhetnoi a unique destination for nature lovers and conservation enthusiasts alike