Animals

Found in Pakistan, Nepal and India, Blackbucks prefer open woodland and grassland areas.

Blackbucks are a medium-sized antelope. Females and young have a uniformly light brown coat with white on their face and belly. Males develop dark brown upper parts and outsides of legs at about 3 years of age and grow spiral horns up to 70cm long. Only the males have horns.

They live in herds of up to 50, with only one dominant male in each herd. Other males form bachelor herds.

Blackbucks are one of the fastest land animals. They can run at speeds of up to 90km/h, with strides of up to 6 metres, and were able to outrun their main predator, the now extinct Asiatic cheetah.

Danger is detected by sight, as they do not have highly developed senses of smell or hearing. A startled Blackbuck will leap into the air, while does will sometimes hiss to alert the rest of the herd. They can jump over 2m high.

During the breeding season, dominant bucks claim territories by scent-marking trees, bushes and other landmarks. Males have a gland under each eye which they can enlarge to appear more aggressive.

Few blackbucks live longer than twelve years, and their maximum lifespan is about sixteen years.

The diet of the Blackbuck consists mostly of grasses, although it does eat pods, flowers and fruits to supplement its diet.

Blackbucks are rarely found outside of protected reserves and are greatly reduced numbers and distribution due to uncontrolled hunting, and farmland encroaching on their territory.

Although Indian law strictly prohibits the hunting of these endangered animals, there are still occasional incidents of poaching. The remaining populations are under threat from inbreeding.