BLACKBUCK
Local name : Kaliyar, Khaliya, Reda
Physical measurement & life cycle:
Length : 120 cm
Tail : 10-17 cm
Weight : 30-40 kg
Height :60-80 cm
Horns: 50-70 cm
Maturity :2.5-3 years
Gestation : 165 days
Litter size : 1
Life span :10-13 years
Breeding : Round the year, late winter is peak breeding season.
Description
Sexually dimorphic, fully grown adult male is chiefly black above with spiral horns. It has white under parts and buttocks. Females and young-one have brownish/ yellowish coat instead of black. Female usually lacks horns (though a female with horns has been photographed in Velavadar).
Food
Herbivorous. Feeds on fresh grass, leaves grains, crops etc.
Distribution
Saurashtra and North Gujarat regions. Ahmedabad and Vadodara districts.
Habitat
Grasslands and fields, not noticed in hilly area.
Behaviour
Diurnal lives in herds. Occurs either as a mixed herd of females and fawns or as a male-only herd.
Signs of presence
In grassland, male blackbuck makes "Aakhali", i.e., a spot without grass by rubbing its body in lying position. Using this type of the spot as a clue, one can infer its presence. Foot-prints near water-hole and droppings also can indicate their presence.
Blackbuck is a species of antelope found mainly in India. There are also introduced populations in variou parts of the world including numerous game ranches in Texas in the United States of America. Gam ranch raised blackbucks are plentiful, In 2007 a blackbuck hunt in U.S.A. for a male trophy ranged in pri from $750 - $2,500. On the open plain, the blackbuck is one of the fastest mammals and can outrun mo predators over long distances. It can run at the speed of 80 km/hour. According to the Hindu mytholoe blackbuck is considered as the vehicle (vahana') of the Moon-god (i.e.., 'Chandra dev'). Its protecte status has gained publicity through a widely reported court case in which one of India's leading film sta. was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for killing blackbuck in Rajasthan state.
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