The blackbuck, also known as Krishnasar in Nepali, belongs to the order Artiodactyla and the family Bovidae. They have a striking appearance with a shiny black coat on the back and a white underbelly. Males have long, spiraled horns that can grow up to 75 cm, while females have shorter, straighter horns.
Blackbucks are known for their swift and agile movements. They are capable of running at a speed of up to 80 km/h and can make sudden jumps of up to 2.5 meters high. In the mating season, males engage in fierce battles using their sharp horns to establish dominance over females.
Interestingly, blackbucks have a unique way of communicating with each other through a series of snorts and whistles. They are also known for their remarkable sense of hearing, which helps them to detect predators from a distance.
Despite being an endangered species, blackbucks have been the subject of some humorous incidents. In 2017, a video went viral on social media showing a group of blackbucks chasing a stray dog in Rajasthan, India. The dog was seen running for its life while the blackbucks pursued it relentlessly. The incident sparked a hilarious debate on social media about whether the dog was actually trying to play with the Blackbucks or if it was genuinely afraid.
In conclusion, blackbucks are fascinating animals with unique physical attributes and behaviors. They play an important role in the ecosystem, and their conservation is vital for the future of their species.
Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is a species of antelope that belongs to the family Bovidae and order Artiodactyla. In Nepal, blackbuck is found in its natural habitat at the Blackbuck Conservation Area in Khairapur, located in the Bardia district of Western Tarai. The global population of blackbuck in its natural range is estimated to be around 50,000 individuals.
Blackbuck is primarily a grazer, and their diet consists of grasses and herbaceous plants. They are social animals and live in herds. The male blackbuck is known for its unique physical appearance. They have a dark brown to black coat with a white underbelly and a distinctive spiral horn. Female Blackbuck has a lighter brown coat with no horns.
During the breeding season, male blackbucks display their dominance by engaging in fights with other males. The mating season starts in late summer and lasts until the onset of monsoon season. The gestation period for females is around six months, after which a single calf is born. The calf is weaned at 6 to 8 months of age.
Blackbuck is listed as a protected species in Nepal under Appendix I of the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973. The IUCN Red List categorizes blackbuck as Near Threatened globally and Critically Endangered in Nepal. The population of blackbuck in Nepal is estimated to be 328 individuals, as per the Annual Report of DNPWC (2019). The blackbuck population in Nepal faces numerous conservation threats, including habitat degradation due to human encroachment and inbreeding leading to genetic depression. To mitigate these threats, DNPWC has translocated blackbucks to Hirapur phanta of Shukla Phanta National Park, where they were recorded back in the 1960s. Furthermore, the formulation and implementation of site-specific conservation action plans in Shukla Phanta National Park are reinforcing the translocation program.
