The nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), which is also known as
the bluebuck or blue bull, is an Asian antelope that is endemic to India.
It measures up to 7 feet (2.1 metres) long and stands up 21
inches (53 cms) high. It weighs up to 660 pounds (300 kg). The front legs are
longer than the rear ones. Male nilgai have stout tapering horns up to 8 inches
(20 cms) long and also sport a throat tuft.
The male’s coat is bluish grey and the female’s is tawny
coloured.
The nilgai prefers open woods to thick forest and is very
alert to danger, fleeing at speed from predators, which include tigers.
Nilgai graze on grasses of various types and browse leaves
and fruit from bushes, feeding during the early morning and early evening while
resting in seclusion during the hot part of the day.
Male nilgai compete for territory and females by kneeling in
front of each other and lunging with their horns. Successful males are able to
acquire harems of up to 10 females.
Breeding occurs throughout the year, although most calves
are born between June and October.
© John Welford
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