Blackbuck

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), also called Indian Blackbuck antelope or Sasin, is a small antelope native to Northern India, Pakistan and Nepal. They are also seen in parts of Texas, USA where they were released in 1932.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Males are on average 80 cm (32 in) tall at the shoulder, the females being slightly smaller. Females and juveniles are light brown in colour. Mature males are black/brown with white flanks and grow long, spiral horns which can be 71 cm (28 in) in length. Females give birth to single calves, but can reproduce twice in one year. The females and their young often congregate in herds of around 20 animals, usually with one dominant adult male present. Young males leave their maternal herd at about 6 months of age and join bachelor herds consisting entirely of immature males. The average lifespan is 12-16 years.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Blackbuck inhabit open grasslands and scrub, where they feed mostly on grass, but also eat leaves and fruit from bushes. Their main natural predator is the wolf. They are among the fastest animals in the world.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There are four subspecies of Blackbuck: A. c. cervicapra, A. c. rajputanae, A. c. centralis and A. c. rupicapra.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Blackbuck are listed as endangered, due to poaching and habitat destruction. Small Blackbuck populations are also under threat from inbreeding. They are also hunted for sport, flesh and skin.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Antelope: :This article deals with the African herbivorous mammal. For other uses, see Antelope (disambiguation)...

India: The Republic of India is a country in South Asia which comprises most of the Indian subcontinent. India has a coastline which stretches over seven thousand kilometres, and shares its borders with Pakistan to the west, the People's Republic of China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the northeast, and Bangladesh...

Nepal: The Kingdom of Nepal ( ) is a landlocked country in South Asia, bordering the People's Republic of China to the north and India to the south, east and west. Nepal has the distinction of being the world's only Hindu state, with over eighty percent of the people following this faith. For a relatively ...