Blackbuck
Antilope cervicapra (also known as the Indian antelope)
Distribution:
India, Pakistan and Nepal
Habitat:
Open woodlands, grasslands, dry forest.
Diet:
Mainly grass, but they also browse on herbs, fruits, leaves and flowers
Gestation:
150 - 180 days, one calf born
Longevity:
12 - 18 years in both the wild and captivity
Predators:
Humans, cheetah, wolf, pariah dog. Fawns may fall prey to jackal, fox, eagle and wild boar
Conservation Status:
Near Threatened
General:
The Blackbuck, also known as the Indian Antelope, is a cautious and shy animal. Spending most of the day resting in shady areas, being mainly active in the morning and late afternoon. Lacking a strong sense of small or hearing but they have great eyesight, for spotting predators.
Normally silent animals, females are known to make a low hissing noise to alert the rest of the herd to a potential danger.
Blackbucks are social animals, living in herds that include from 5 to 50 individuals. The herd consists of an adult male and numerous females with their young.
Fun fact: Blackbuck are one of the few antelope species whose colour differs between sexes, with males gradually becoming darker with age.
At Hamilton Zoo:
You can find our Blackbuck herd in the savannah.
Males:
Josh - 26/10/13
Jeff - 4/3/17
Beryn - 10/3/17
Reyansh - 24/8/18
Arush - 3/9/18
BeeJay - 17/8/18
James Dean - 8/1/19
Andrew - 17/3/19
Maxwell - 17/3/19
Ted - 25/4/19