Nilgai

Facts

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

Facts about this animal

Nilgai are the largest of the Indian antelopes. Adult bulls have a head-body length of up to 210 cm, stand 130-150 cm at the shoulder and weigh 200-240 kilograms, occasionally more. Cows are smaller and weigh 150-200 kilograms. The rump is lower than the withers. The tail is relatively long, measuring between 45 and 54 cm. Only the males have horns, which become only about 18-20 cm long, and are black-coloured, sharp, and bicurved. Both sexes have a mane on the neck and develop a tuft of long hair on the throat.

The hair on the body is generally thin, wiry, and somewhat oily. Adult bulls are generally blue-grey, have black legs, and some may be brown-tinged, particularly younger individualy. Cows and calves are pale brown. All have similar dark and white markings on their ears and legs. The skin is thick, particularly on the chest and neck of the bulls, where it forms a dermal shield.

Nilgais are predominantly diurnal although they will rest during part of the day. They segregate into male and female groups except during the breeding season. Bulls do not maintain a fixed territory but defend a space around themselves. Fighting occurs between dominant bulls, and serious injury or death sometimes results. Nilgai make dung piles by defecating repeatedly on the same sites.

Some breeding takes place year-round, but there is a peak from June to Ocotber, in Texas November through March. At that time breeding groups of one dominant bull and one to several cows are found. After a gestation period of 245-277 days the females give birth usually to twins, less often to a single calf, which weigh about 7 kilograms at birth.

Nilgais graze and browse feeding on the leaves and fruit of jujube Zizyphus mauritiana and other trees. They do not drink regularly.

Did you know?
that the nilghai is fairly abundant in India as it is considered sacred by Hindus because of resemblance to the cow, and that the species has been introduced to the US for hunting pirposes where now a feral poulation of 37'000 animals is established on Texas ranches?

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	ARTIODACTYLA
Suborder	RUMINANTIA
Family	BOVIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Boselaphus tragocamelus
Name (English)	Nilgai
Name (French)	Antilope nilgaut
Name (German)	Nilgau-Antilope
Name (Spanish)	Nilgó, Antilope azul
Local names	India: Nil, nilgai, rojh, roz, rojra, rohu
CITES Status	Not listed
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
CooKeen

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Southern Asia: India (Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan down to Karnataka, n Not found in East India and west coast), Nepal, Pakistan. Extinct in Bangladesh.
Habitat	Grassland, savannas, open forest and cultivated land.
Wild population	More than 100,000 in India, rare in Paklstan, no data from Nepal (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population	487 reported to ISIS (2008)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 73 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Lisa Purcell

Why do zoos keep this animal

Nilgais are kept for educational reasons as an example of the megafauna of the Indian subcontinent – they are the largest antelope of Asia – and because of their striking sexual dimorphism. Because they are a large, attractive and diurnal species they make good ambassadors for the conservation of the Southern Asian fauna. For this purpose they are often kept in mixed exhibits with axis or other deer, blackbuck, cranes and peafowl.

Because nilgais are not threatened in the wild, many zoos have chosen to replace them by bantengs in recent years .

How this animal should be kept

Nilgais are usually kept in social groups of one adult male and several females with their offspring, but also bachelor herds may be kept. For up to five adult animals an outdoor enclosure of at least 800 m² is required, which should be enlarged by 80 m² for each additional adult. The enclosure should be well structured, frequently used areas, e.g. at the entrance to the stables, should be paved. The soil should be well drained. Landscaping must provide for visual barriers and may involve tree roots, large natural stones or trees.

In cold and temperate climates, nilgais must be provided frost free indoor facilities. Because males may injure each other and the females, it is vital that there are opportunities to stable them separately with at least 8 m² being available for each adult. The indoor stabling must be dry and free of drafts.

Nilgais are mixed feeders, grazing, and browsing on leaves, shoots, flowers, twigs etc. Their diet should therefore be medium-proteine, comprising good hay hay ad lib., fresh browse (winter: leafless; summer: with leaves), dried browse (in winter, e.g. chestnut leaves), fresh lucerne/grass mixture (only summer), pellets, crushed oats, bran, fruit, and vegetables. Although they do not drink very regularly in the wild, water should be available to them at all times.