Nilgai

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Nilgai
Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) male.jpg
Male at Jamtra, Madhya Pradesh, India
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Boselaphus
Species:
B. tragocamelus
Binomial name
Boselaphus tragocamelus
(Pallas, 1766)
Boselaphus tragocamelus map.png
Natural range of the nilgai
Synonyms [2]
  • Antilope tragocamelus(Pallas, 1766)
  • A. albipes(Erxleben, 1777).
  • A. leucopus(Zimmermann, 1777)
  • A. picta(Pallas, 1776)
  • Boselaphus picta(de Blainville, 1816)
  • B. albipes(Desmarest, 1816)
  • Cemas tragocamelus(Oken, 1816)
  • C. picta(Oken, 1816)
  • Damalis risia(C. H. Smith, 1827)
  • D. picta(Brookes, 1828)
  • Portax risia(C. H. Smith, 1827)
  • P. tragelaphus(Sundevall, 1846)
  • Tragelaphus hippelaphus(Ogilby, 1838)

The nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) ( /ˈnilˌɡaɪ/ , literally meaning "blue cow") is the largest antelope of Asia, and is ubiquitous across the northern Indian subcontinent. It is the sole member of the genus Boselaphus, which was first described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1766. The nilgai stands 1–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) at the shoulder; males weigh 109–288 kg (240–635 lb), and the lighter females 100–213 kg (220–470 lb). A sturdy thin-legged antelope, the nilgai is characterised by a sloping back, a deep neck with a white patch on the throat, a short crest of hair along the neck terminating in a tuft, and white facial spots. A column of pendant coarse hair hangs from the dewlap ridge below the white patch. Sexual dimorphism is prominent – while females and juveniles are orange to tawny, adult males have a bluish-grey coat. Only males possess horns, 15–24 cm (5.9–9.4 in) long.

Contents

The nilgai is diurnal (active mainly during the day). The animals band together in three distinct kinds of groups: one or two females with young calves, three to six adult and yearling females with calves, and all-male groups with two to 18 members. Typically tame, the nilgai may appear timid and cautious if harassed or alarmed; it flees up to 300 m (980 ft), or even 700 m (2,300 ft), galloping away from the source of danger. Herbivores, nilgai prefer grasses and herbs, though they commonly eat woody plants in the dry tropical forests of India. Females become sexually mature by two years, while males do not become sexually active until four or five years old. The time of the year when mating takes place varies geographically, but a peak breeding season lasting three to four months can be observed at most places.Gestation lasts eight to nine months, following which a single calf (sometimes twins or even triplets) is born. As typical of several bovid species, nilgai calves stay hidden for the first few weeks of their lives. The lifespan of the nilgai is around ten years.

The nilgai prefers areas with short bushes and scattered trees in scrub forests and grassy plains. It is common in agricultural land, but rarely in dense forest. Major populations occur in the Indian and Nepal Terai. It was thought to be extinct in Bangladesh. The nilgai was introduced to Texas in the 1920s to 1930s. As of 2008, the feral population in Texas is nearly 37,000. The nilgai is categorised as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The nilgai has been associated with Indian culture since the Vedic period (1500–500 BCE). They were hunted in the Mughal era (16th to 19th centuries) and are depicted in numerous miniatures. Nilgai have been considered a pest in several north Indian states, as they ravage crop fields and cause considerable damage. In Bihar, authorities have classified the nilgai as vermin.

Etymology

The vernacular name "nilgai" /ˈnɪlˌɡaɪ/ comes from the fusion of the Hindi words nil ("blue") and gai ("cow"). The word was first recorded in use in 1882. [3] Alternative origins could be from the Persian gaw ("cow"). [2] The nilgai has been referred to by a variety of names: neelghae, [2] nilgau, nilgo, [1] nylghau, [4] and nylghai, [5] constructions referring to other "blue" animals. They are also known as white-footed antelope. [2] During Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's reign (1658–1707) of India, the nilgai was known by the name nilghor ("nil" for "blue" and "ghor" for "horse"). [6]

Taxonomy

The scientific name of the nilgai is Boselaphus tragocamelus. The nilgai is the sole member of the genus Boselaphus and placed in the family Bovidae. The species was described and given its binomial name by the German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas in 1766. [7] He based his description on a 1745 account of a male nilgai by British physician James Parsons in the 43rd volume of Philosophical Transactions (now known as the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society ). [8] [9] The nilgai has one other relative in the tribe Boselaphini, the four-horned antelope (the sole member of Tetracerus ). [10]

The generic name Boselaphus comes from the combination of the Latin bos ("cow" or "ox") and the Greek elaphos ("deer"). [11] The specific name tragocamelus comes from the join of the two Greek words tragos ("he-goat") and kamelos ("camel"). The binomial combination was first used by English zoologist Philip Sclater in 1883. [2] Boselaphus has often been misspelled as Buselaphus (first used by Ludwig Reichenbach in 1845 for the red hartebeest) [12] and Bosephalus (first used by Thomas Horsfield in 1851, when he mistook a nilgai specimen for a hartebeest in a museum catalogue of the East India Company). [2]

Evolution

A 1992 phylogenetic study of mitochondrial DNA sequences showed a strong possibility of a clade consisting of Boselaphini, Bovini, and Tragelaphini. Bovini consists of the genera Bubalus , Bos , Pseudoryx (saola), Syncerus (African Buffalo), Bison and the extinct Pelorovis . Tragelaphini consists of two genera: Taurotragus (eland) and Tragelaphus . A closer relationship between Boselaphini and Tragelaphini was predicted, [13] and seconded by a similar study in 1999. [14]

Bovini

Tragelaphini

Boselaphini

Though the tribe Boselaphini has no African representation today, [15] fossil evidence supports its presence in the continent in the prehistoric times, as early as the late Miocene. The two living antelope species of this tribe have been found to have a closer relationship with the earliest bovids (like Eotragus species) than do the other bovids. [5] [16] This tribe originated at least 8.9 million years ago, in much the same area where the four-horned antelope lives today, and may represent the most "primitive" of all living bovids, having changed the least since the origins of the family. [17] The extant and extinct boselaphine forms show similar development of the horn cores (the central bony part of the horn). [18] Though the extant nilgai females lack horns, historic relatives of the antelope had horned females. [19] Fossil relatives were once placed in the subfamily Cephalophinae [20] which now contains only the African duikers. [21] Fossils of Protragoceros and Sivoreas dating back to the late Miocene have been discovered not only in Asia and southern Europe but also in the Ngorora Formation (Kenya) and are thought to belong to the Boselaphini. [19] [22] Other Miocene fossils of boselaphines discovered are of Miotragocerus , Tragocerus , and Tragoportax ; fossils of Miotragoceros are not apparent in Africa (only M. cyrenaicus has been reported from the continent), but have significant presence in the Shiwalik Hills in India and Pakistan, as do several Tragoportax species. A 2005 study showed the migration of Miotragoceros to eastern Asia around eight million years ago. [23] Alan W. Gentry of the Natural History Museum reported the presence of another boselaphine, Mesembriportax , from Langebaanweg (South Africa). [24]

Remains of the nilgai dating back to the Pleistocene have been discovered from the Kurnool caves in southern India. [25] Evidence suggests that they were hunted by humans during the Mesolithic period (5,000 to 8,000 years ago). [26] [27]

Description

Close view of a male nilgai showing the facial markings, throat patch, beard and short horns Nilgai at Ranthambore.jpg
Close view of a male nilgai showing the facial markings, throat patch, beard and short horns
Skull of a nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus 05 MWNH 1497d.jpg
Skull of a nilgai

A sturdy thin-legged antelope, the nilgai is characterised by a sloping back, a deep neck with a white patch on the throat, a short mane of hair behind and along the back ending behind the shoulder, and around two white spots each on its face, ears, cheeks, lips and chin. [6] The ears, tipped with black, are 15–18 cm (5.9–7.1 in) long. [2] A column of coarse hair, known as the "pendant" and around 13 cm (5.1 in) long in males, can be observed along the dewlap ridge below the white throat patch. [28] The tufted tail, up to 54 cm (21 in), [29] has a few white spots and is tipped with black. [6] The forelegs are generally longer, [29] and the legs are often marked with white "socks". [2] While females and juveniles are orange to tawny, males are much darker – their coat is typically bluish grey. The ventral parts, the insides of the thighs and the tail are all white. [29] A white stripe extends from the underbelly and broadens as it approaches the rump, forming a patch lined with dark hair. [28] Almost white, though not albino, individuals have been observed in the Sariska National Park. [30] while individuals with white patches have been recorded at zoos. [31] The hairs, typically 23–28 cm (9.1–11.0 in) long, are fragile and brittle. [32] Males have thicker skin on their head and neck that protect them in fights. [6] The coat is not well-insulated with fat during winter, and consequently severe cold might be fatal for the nilgai. [33] Males are horned, and the occasional female. The horns are 15–24 cm (5.9–9.4 in) long but generally shorter than 30 cm (12 in). [6] Smooth and straight, these may point backward or forward. [34] The horns of the nilgai lack the ringed structure typical of those of other bovids. [35]

The nilgai is the largest antelope in Asia. [6] [36] It stands 1–1.5 m (3 ft 3 in – 4 ft 11 in) at the shoulder; [28] the head-and-body length is typically between 1.7–2.1 m (5 ft 7 in – 6 ft 11 in). [6] Males weigh 109–288 kg (240–635 lb); the maximum weight recorded is 308 kg (679 lb). Females are lighter, weighing 100–213 kg (220–470 lb). [28] Sexual dimorphism is prominent; the males are larger than females and differ in colouration. [2]

The maximum recorded length of the skull is 376 mm (14.8 in). The dental formula is 0.0.3.33.1.3.3. The milk teeth are totally lost and the permanent dentition completed by three years of age. The permanent teeth get degraded with age, showing prominent signs of wear at six years of age. The nilgai has sharp ears and eyes, [37] though its sense of smell is not as acute. [38]

Distribution and habitat

in the Grassland Bluebull at Rajkot.jpg
in the Grassland
Nilgai prefer areas with low bushes Nilgai in Blackbuck National Park 02.jpg
Nilgai prefer areas with low bushes

The nilgai is endemic to the Indian subcontinent: major populations occur in India, Nepal and Pakistan. It was thought to be extinct in Bangladesh but recent reports suggest otherwise. [39] Significant numbers occur in the Terai lowlands in the foothills of the Himalayas; the antelope is abundant across northern India. [40] It prefers areas with short bushes and scattered trees in scrub forests and grassy plains. They are common in agricultural lands, but hardly occur in dense woods. In southern Texas, it roams in the prairies, scrub forests and oak forests. It is a generalist animal—it can adapt to a variety of habitats. [2] Though sedentary and less dependent on water, nilgai may desert their territories if all water sources in and around it dry up. [41] Territories in Texas are 0.6 to 8.1 square kilometres (0.23 to 3.13 sq mi) large. [2]

The Indian population was estimated at one million in 2001. [1] The nilgai were first introduced to Texas in the 1920s and the 1930s in a 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) large ranch near the Norias Division of the King Ranch, one of the largest ranches in the world. The feral population saw a spurt toward the latter part of the 1940s, and gradually spread out to adjoining ranches. [42]

Nilgai search for new areas if they run out of water Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) bull (19725141044).jpg
Nilgai search for new areas if they run out of water

Population densities show great geographical variation across India. Density can be as low as 0.23 to 0.34 individuals per km2 in Indravati National Park. [43] and 0.4 individuals per km2 in the Pench Tiger Reserve, [44] or as high as 6.6 to 11.36 individuals per km2 in Ranthambhore National Park, and seven individuals per km2 in Keoladeo National Park. [45] Seasonal variations were noted in Bardiya National Park in a 1980 study; the density 3.2 individuals per km2 during the dry season and 5 per km2 in April, the start of the dry season. [46] In southern Texas, densities were found to be nearly 3–5 individuals per km2 in 1976. [2]

Historic notes mention nilgai in southern India, but these may have been feral: [47]

I believe that the Coimbatore and Salem collectorates are almost the only places in Southern India, in which nil-gai are to be found. It is difficult to account for the animals being thus so widely divided from their usual haunts unless as has been generally supposed, these Southern specimens are the progeny of a semi-domesticated herd, which, at some by-gone period, had escaped from the preserve of a native potentate.

— Andrew Cooke McMaster (Notes on Jerdon's Mammals of India, 1871)

Behavior and ecology

A group of nilgai resting Nilgai zoo.jpg
A group of nilgai resting

The nilgai is diurnal (active mainly during the day). A 1991 study investigated the daily routine of the antelope and found feeding peaks at dawn, in the morning, in the afternoon and during the evening. [48] Females and juveniles do not interact appreciably with males, except during the mating season. Groups are generally small, with ten or fewer individuals, though groups of 20 to 70 individuals can occur at times. [28] In a 1980 study in Bardiya National Park, the average herd size was of three individuals; [46] In a 1995 study in the Gir National Park, herd membership varied with season. [49] However, three distinct groupings are formed: one or two females with young calves, three to six adult and yearling females with calves, and male groups with two to 18 members. [50]

A nilgai running Nilgai running.jpg
A nilgai running

Typically tame, the nilgai may appear timid and cautious if harassed or alarmed; instead of seeking cover like duikers it would flee up to 300 m (980 ft)-or even 700 m (2,300 ft) on galloping-away from the danger. [41] Though generally quiet, nilgai have been reported to make short guttural grunts when alarmed, and females to make clicking noises when nursing young. [50] [51] Alarmed individuals, mainly juveniles below five months, give out a coughing roar (whose pitch is highest in case of the juveniles) that lasts half a second, but can be heard by herds less than 500 m (1,600 ft) away and responded to similarly. [2]

Fights take place in both sexes and involve pushing their necks against each other or ramming into one another using horns. Fights can be gory; despite the protective skin deep, lacerated wounds and even deaths might occur. [2] Display behaviour focuses on the throat patch and the beard, and threatening opponents by pointing the horns toward them. A young male was observed making a submissive display in the Sariska Reserve by kneeling before an adult male, who stood erect. [50] The nilgai mark their territories by forming dung piles as much as 50 cm (20 in) in radius. The defecation process is elaborate-the antelope stands with his legs about a metre apart, with the rump lowered and the tail held almost vertical; it stays in the same posture for at least ten seconds after relieving itself. The process is not as elaborate in the females as it is in the males. [41]

Sparring males Nilgais fighting, Lakeshwari, Gwalior district, India.jpg
Sparring males

In India, the nilgai shares its habitat with the four-horned antelope, chinkara, chital and blackbuck; its association with the gaur and the water buffalo is less common. [2] In Ranthambore National Park, the nilgai and the chinkara collectively prefer the area rich in Acacia and Butea species, while the sambar deer and the chital preferred the forests of Anogeissus and Grewia species. [52] In India, the Bengal tiger and Asiatic lion prey on the nilgai but they are not significant predators of this antelope. [52] Leopards also prey on the nilgai, though they prefer smaller prey. [53] Dholes generally attack juveniles. [2] Other predators includes the Indian wolf [54] and striped hyena. [2]

Diet

Nilgai can reach for high branches Adult male nilgai browsing in trees outside Burla.jpg
Nilgai can reach for high branches

The nilgai is a browser [46] or mixed feeder, [55] but primarily a grazer in Texas. [41] It prefers grasses and herbs, but also feeds on woody plants in the dry tropical forests of India. Diets generally suffice in protein and fats. [56] The protein content of the nilgai's should be at least seven percent. [57] The nilgai can survive for long periods without water and does not drink regularly even in summer. [2] [58]

In Sariska Reserve, it prefers herbs and grasses; grasses become more important in the rainy season, while during winter and summer it feeds additionally on Butea monosperma flowers, foliage of Anogeissus pendula , Capparis sepiaria , Grewia flavescens and Zizyphus mauritiana ), pods of Acacia nilotica , A. catechu and A. leucophloea, and fruits of Zizyphus mauritiana. [50] Preferred grass species include Cenchrus species, Cynodon dactylon , Desmostachya bipinnata , Scirpus tuberosus and Vetiveria zizanoides . Woody plants eaten include Acacia nilotica, A. senegal, A. leucophloea, Clerodendrum phlomidis , Crotalaria burhia , Indigofera oblongifolia , Morus alba and Zizyphus nummularia ; herbs favoured are Cocculus hirsutus , Euphorbia hirta and Sida rhombifolia . [59] [60] [61] Seeds of Paspalum distichum occurred in the dung of nilgai most of the year; Acacia nilotica and Prosopis juliflora seeds were discovered in the dry season and those of Echinochloa crusgalli during the monsoon. [62]

Reproduction

Nilgai mating Nilgai mating at Bandhavgarh National Park.jpg
Nilgai mating
A mother with her calves Boselaphus tragocamelus-no watermark.jpg
A mother with her calves

Observations of females in southern Texas revealed that ovaries are developed by two years of age and the first birth takes place typically a year later, though in a few cases females as young as one-and-a-half years may mate successfully. [28] Females can breed again around a year after parturition. [2] Males in the same location were found to have active testes by the age of three years, that matured considerably by the next year. [63] Males become sexually active at four or five years. Mating may occur throughout the year, with peaks of three to four months. The time of the year when these peaks occur varies geographically. In Texas, a peak is apparent from December to March. [33] In Bharatpur National Park, the breeding season is from October to February, peaking in November and December. Sariska reserve witnesses a similar peak in December and January. [50] In the mating season, rutting males move about in search of females in oestrus. [50] Males become aggressive and fight among themselves for dominance. These fights are characterised by displays of the enlarged chest, the throat patch and the beard while holding the head upright; and threatening the opponent by running with the horns pointed toward him and circling him. [41] [64] The victorious bull would protect the vicinity of the targeted female from other males. The courtship typically lasts for 45 minutes. The male, stiff and composed, approaches the receptive female, who keeps her head low to the ground and may slowly walk forward. The male licks her genitalia, upon which the female holds her tail to a side and the male gives out a flehmen response. Finally, the male pushes his chest against her rump, and mounts her. [41]

Gestation lasts eight to nine months, following which a single calf or twins (even triplets at times) are born. In a 2004 study in the Sariska reserve, twins accounted for as high as 80 percent of the total calf population. [50] Births peak from June to October in the Bharatpur National Park, and from April to August in southern Texas. Calves are precocial; they are able to stand within 40 minutes of birth, and forage by the fourth week. [6] Pregnant females isolate themselves before giving birth. As typical of several bovid species, nilgai calves are kept in hiding for the first few weeks of their lives. This period of concealment can last as long as a month in Texas. [41] Calves, mainly males, bicker playfully by neck-fighting. [48] Young males would leave their mothers at ten months to join bachelor groups. [29] The lifespan of the nilgai is typically ten years in Texas. [28]

Threats and conservation

Nilgai in the Gir National Park, Gujarat (India) Female neelgai 1 gir 2006 karthick.jpg
Nilgai in the Gir National Park, Gujarat (India)

The nilgai is categorised as of Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural resources (IUCN). [1] While it is common in India, the nilgai occurs sparsely in Nepal and Pakistan. [40] The major reasons behind its decimation in these two countries are rampant hunting, deforestation and habitat degradation in the 20th century. As of 2008, the feral population in Texas was nearly 37,000. [1] Wild populations also exist in the US states of Alabama, Florida and Mississippi and the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, where they have escaped from private exotic ranches.[ citation needed ] The population around the Texas-Mexico border is estimated to be around 30,000 (as of 2011). [65]

In India, the nilgai is protected under Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. [66] Major protected areas for the nilgai across India include: Gir National Park (Gujarat); Bandhavgarh National Park, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanha National Park, Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, Panna Tiger Reserve, Pench Tiger Reserve, Sanjay National Park, Satpura National Park (Madhya Pradesh); Tadoba Andhari Reserve (Maharashtra); Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon, Ranthambore National Park and Sariska Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan). [67]

Cultural significance

Tamed nilgai in Gwalior district Nilgai, Lakeshwari, Gwalior district, India.jpg
Tamed nilgai in Gwalior district

Remains of nilgai have been excavated at Pandu Rajar Dhibi in West Bengal, suggesting that they were domesticated or hunted in eastern India in the Neolithic period (6500–1400 BCE) [68] and during the Indus Valley civilisation (3300–1700 BCE) in the Indian subcontinent. [69] [70] There is a reference to the nilgai in the Aitareya Brahmana (a Hindu religious text dated 500–1000 BCE), where one of the Prajapatis (progenitor god) is said to have assumed the form of a nilgai: [71]

Prajapati desired his own daughter ... Having become a nilgai bull he approached her who had become a nilgai cow ... The gods saw him and said: "Prajapati is doing a deed that is not done".

Nilgai illustrated by Ustad Mansur for Jahangir (1605-27), c. 1620 Nilgai (blue bull).jpg
Nilgai illustrated by Ustad Mansur for Jahangir (1605–27), c. 1620

Nilgai are extensively featured in paintings, dagger hilts and texts from the Mughal era (16th to 19th centuries); [72] [73] their representation, however, is less frequent than that of horses and camels. [74] On being disturbed while hunting nilgai, the Mughal emperor Jahangir recorded his ire: [75]

Suddenly a groom and two bearers appeared, and the nilgai escaped. In a great rage, I ordered them to kill the groom on the spot and hamstring the bearers and mount them on asses and parade them through the camp.

For centuries Indian villagers have associated the nilgai with the cow, a sacred animal revered by Hindus, and the name ("gai" means "cow" in Hindi) indicates the similarity they saw with the cow. [29] [76] The nilgai is rarely consumed by Hindus due to its religious significance. Tribes such as the Bishnois traditionally take care of wild animals like the nilgai. [77] The nilgai was not widely hunted until the 20th century, when habitat degradation and poaching became rampant. [78] [79] [ self-published source ] The meat of nilgai is said to be lighter and milder flavoured than blackbuck meat. [34] [80]

Culling and conservation

The populations of nilgai in India are so large that farmers in the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have pleaded to the government to cull them. Nilgai herds raid and trample crop fields across these states, [81] often causing food shortages. [82] [83] Farmers use live electric wires to guard their farms, which kills other animals as well. [84] Farmers in Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh) went on a hunger strike in 2015 demanding compensation for the damage caused by nilgai. [85] Although blackbuck cause a similar problem, the damage caused by them is significantly lower as they merely break off young shoots. [86] [87] A 1990 study suggested culling, building enclosures for the antelopes and fencing off agricultural areas as remedies. [86]

The governments of Bihar, [82] Maharashtra [88] and Uttarakhand [89] have urged the Government of India to declare the nilgai as vermin; the proposal has been implemented in Bihar, where nilgai can now be hunted to minimise the damages incurred by locals. [82] The Uttar Pradesh government has given farmers and firearm licence holders the right to cull the animals. [90] However, animal rights activists in various parts of India were unhappy with the decision. [91] Shivanshu K. Srivastava, a columnist and social activist, wrote that "The culling of nilgais (blue bulls) in Bihar in July 2016 was so deplorable that it doesn't need any justification. The excuse given for this slew by the State government, the then environment minister Prakash Javadekar and the judiciary is so illogical that it mocks all the solutions available to stop the nilgais from destroying the farms. We live in the 21st century and culling is only the very last option we have. The farmers can either opt for fencing around the farmlands or if it's unaffordable, then the government can give ordinances to relocate them to the forests." [92] [93] The state governments have attempted other initiatives to curb the nilgai: in November 2015, the Government of Rajasthan came up with a proposal to allow shooting nilgai with non-lethal darts to inhibit fertilisation in their bodies, so as to regulate their increasing populations. [94] As the name "nilgai" appeals to the religious sentiments of Hindus, the Government of Madhya Pradesh has sought to officially rename it rojad (Hindi for "forest antelope") and the Government of Haryana to rename it as roze in a bid to make their culling acceptable. [95] [96] [97]

A 1994 study drew attention to the ecological value provided by the nilgai in ravines lining the Yamuna River. In summer, the faeces of the antelope contained nearly 1.6 percent nitrogen, that could enhance the quality of the soil up to a depth of 30 cm (12 in). Seeds in the droppings could easily germinate and assist in afforestation. [98]

In September 2019, a video surfaced of a nilgai being buried alive with an excavator in Bihar as part of the culling. The state forest department has claimed to have begun an investigation to find those responsible. [99]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bovinae</span> Subfamily of mammals

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The four-horned antelope, or chousingha, is a small antelope found in India and Nepal. Its four horns distinguish it from most other bovids, which have two horns. The sole member of the genus Tetracerus, the species was first described by French zoologist Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville in 1816. Three subspecies are recognised. The four-horned antelope stands nearly 55–64 centimetres (22–25 in) at the shoulder and weighs nearly 17–22 kilograms (37–49 lb). Slender with thin legs and a short tail, the four-horned antelope has a yellowish brown to reddish coat. One pair of horns is located between the ears, and the other on the forehead. The posterior horns are always longer than the anterior horns, which might be mere fur-covered studs. While the posterior horns measure 8–12 centimetres (3.1–4.7 in), the anterior ones are 2–5 centimetres (0.79–1.97 in) long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain nyala</span> Species of mammal

The mountain nyala or balbok, is a large antelope found in high altitude woodlands in a small part of central Ethiopia. It is a monotypic species first described by English naturalist Richard Lydekker in 1910. The males are typically 120–135 cm (47–53 in) tall while females stand 90–100 cm (35–39 in) at the shoulder. Males weigh 180–300 kg (400–660 lb) and females weigh 150–200 kg (330–440 lb). The coat is grey to brown, marked with two to five poorly defined white strips extending from the back to the underside, and a row of six to ten white spots. White markings are present on the face, throat and legs as well. Males have a short dark erect crest, about 10 cm (3.9 in) high, running along the middle of the back. Only males possess horns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common eland</span> Second largest antelope in the world

The common eland, also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a large-sized savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. It is a species of the family Bovidae and genus Taurotragus. An adult male is around 1.6 m (5.2 ft) tall at the shoulder and can weigh up to 942 kg (2,077 lb) with a typical range of 500–600 kg (1,100–1,300 lb), 340–445 kg (750–981 lb) for females). It is the second-largest antelope in the world, being slightly smaller on average than the giant eland. It was scientifically described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1766.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant eland</span> An open-forest and savanna antelope of the family Bovidae

The giant eland, also known as the Lord Derby's eland and greater eland, is an open-forest and savanna antelope. A species of the family Bovidae and genus Taurotragus, it was described in 1847 by John Edward Gray. The giant eland is the largest species of antelope, with a body length ranging from 220–290 cm (87–114 in). There are two subspecies: T. d. derbianus and T. d. gigas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scimitar oryx</span> Species of oryx

The scimitar oryx, also known as the scimitar-horned oryx and the Sahara oryx, is a Oryx species that was once widespread across North Africa. In 2000, it was declared extinct in the wild on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerenuk</span> Long-necked species of antelope (Litocranius walleri)

The gerenuk, also known as the giraffe gazelle, is a long-necked, medium-sized antelope found in parts of East Africa. The sole member of the genus Litocranius, the gerenuk was first described by the naturalist Victor Brooke in 1879. It is characterised by its long, slender neck and limbs. The antelope is 80–105 centimetres tall, and weighs between 18 and 52 kilograms. Two types of colouration are clearly visible on the smooth coat: the reddish brown back or the "saddle", and the lighter flanks, fawn to buff. The horns, present only on males, are lyre-shaped. Curving backward then slightly forward, these measure 25–44 cm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tibetan antelope</span> Species of mammal

The Tibetan antelope or chiru is a medium-sized bovid native to the northeastern Tibetan plateau. Most of the population live within the Chinese border, while some scatter across India and Bhutan in the high altitude plains, hill plateau and montane valley. Fewer than 150,000 mature individuals are left in the wild, but the population is currently thought to be increasing. In 1980s and 1990s, they had become endangered due to massive illegal poaching. They are hunted for their extremely soft, light and warm underfur which is usually obtained after death. This underfur, known as shahtoosh, is used to weave luxury shawls. Shahtoosh shawls were traditionally given as wedding gifts in India and it takes the underfur of three to five adult antelopes to make one shawl. Despite strict controls on trade of shahtoosh products and CITES listing, there is still demand for these luxury items. Within India, shawls are worth $1,000–$5,000; internationally the price can reach as high as $20,000. In 1997 the Chinese government established the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve solely to protect the Tibetan antelope population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackbuck</span> Antelope native to India and Nepal

The blackbuck, also known as the Indian antelope, is an antelope native to India and Nepal. It inhabits grassy plains and lightly forested areas with perennial water sources. It stands up to 74 to 84 cm high at the shoulder. Males weigh 20–57 kg (44–126 lb), with an average of 38 kg (84 lb). Females are lighter, weighing 20–33 kg (44–73 lb) or 27 kg (60 lb) on average. Males have 35–75 cm (14–30 in) long corkscrew horns, and females occasionally develop horns, as well. The white fur on the chin and around the eyes is in sharp contrast with the black stripes on the face. Both sexes’ coats feature a two-tone colouration; in males, the majority of the body is dark brown to black, with white circles around the eyes, white ears and tail, and the belly, lower jaw, and inner legs also white. Females and juveniles are yellowish-fawn to tan and display the same white areas, only with more of a beige tone than the males. Females also feature a more pronounced horizontal white side-stripe, starting around the shoulder and ending at the rump. The blackbuck is the sole living member of the genus Antilope and was scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Two subspecies are recognized.

<i>Boselaphus</i> Genus of mammals

Boselaphus is a genus of bovid. The nilgai is the sole living representative, although one other species is known from the fossil record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue wildebeest</span> Species of antelope

The blue wildebeest, also called the common wildebeest, white-bearded gnu or brindled gnu, is a large antelope and one of the two species of wildebeest. It is placed in the genus Connochaetes and family Bovidae, and has a close taxonomic relationship with the black wildebeest. The blue wildebeest is known to have five subspecies. This broad-shouldered antelope has a muscular, front-heavy appearance, with a distinctive, robust muzzle. Young blue wildebeest are born tawny brown, and begin to take on their adult coloration at the age of 2 months. The adults' hues range from a deep slate or bluish-gray to light gray or even grayish-brown. Both sexes possess a pair of large curved horns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red hartebeest</span>

The red hartebeest, also called the Cape hartebeest or Caama, is a subspecies of the hartebeest found in Southern Africa. More than 130,000 individuals live in the wild. The red hartebeest is closely related to the tsessebe and the topi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bovini</span> Tribe of cattle

The tribe Bovini, or wild cattle, are medium to massive bovines that are native to Eurasia, North America, and Africa. These include the enigmatic, antelope-like saola, the African and Asiatic buffalos, and a clade that consists of bison and the wild cattle of the genus Bos. Not only are they the largest members of the subfamily Bovinae, they are the largest species of their family Bovidae. The largest species is the gaur, weighing up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boselaphini</span> Tribe of mammals

Boselaphini is a tribe of bovines. It contains only two extant genera, each with a single extant species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tragelaphini</span> Tribe of antelopes

The tribe Tragelaphini, or the spiral-horned antelopes, are bovines that are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. These include the bushbucks, kudus, and the elands. The scientific name is in reference to the mythical creature the tragelaph, a Chimera with the body of a stag and the head of a goat. They are medium-to-large, tall, long-legged antelopes characterized by their iconic twisted horns and striking pelage coloration patterns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary</span>

The Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Chandraprabha, is situated in Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh state in central India. It is well endowed with beautiful picnic spots, dense forests, and scenic waterfalls like Rajdari, Devdari & Naugarh waterfall that attract tourists every year to its vicinity. Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary is situated about 70 kilometres from the historic city of Varanasi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preorbital gland</span> Paired exocrine gland in many hoofed animals

The preorbital gland is a paired exocrine gland found in many species of hoofed animals, which is homologous to the lacrimal gland found in humans. These glands are trenchlike slits of dark blue to black, nearly bare skin extending from the medial canthus of each eye. They are lined by a combination of sebaceous and sudoriferous glands, and they produce secretions which contain pheromones and other semiochemical compounds. Ungulates frequently deposit these secretions on twigs and grass as a means of communication with other animals.

<i>Duboisia santeng</i> Extinct Ice-Age antelope from Indonesia

Duboisia santeng or Dubois' antelope is an extinct antelope-like bovid that was endemic to Indonesia during the Pleistocene. It went extinct during the Ionian stage of the Pleistocene, about 750.000 years ago. Duboisia santeng was first described by the Dutch paleoanthropologist and geologist Eugène Dubois in 1891.

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