The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is an antelope species native to the Indian subcontinent that has been classified as endangered by IUCN since 2003, as the blackbuck range has decreased sharply during the 20th century.^[1]

The blackbuck is the only living species of the genus Antilope.^[2] Its generic name 'Antilope' stems from the Latin word antalopus, a horned animal.^[3] The binomial 'cervicapra' is composed of the Latin words capra, she-goat and cervus, deer.^[4]

Characteristics

Male and female blackbuck

Males and females have distinctive coloration. Male blackbucks are dark brown, black, and white and have long twisted horns, while females are fawn coloured with no horns. Blackbucks closely resemble Kobs.^[5] Body Length: 100–150 cm (3.3–4.9 ft)
Shoulder Height: 60–85 cm (2.0–2.79 ft)
Tail Length: 10–17 cm (3.9–6.7 in)
Weight: 25–35 kg (55–77 lb)^[6]

The horns of the blackbuck are ringed with 1 to 4 spiral turns, rarely more than 4 turns, and can be as long as 79 cm (31 in). A trophy blackbuck is greater than 46 cm (18 in). In the male, the upper body is black (dark brown), and the belly and eye rings are white. The light-brown female is usually hornless.^[5]

Albinism in blackbuck is rare and caused by the lack of the pigment melanin. The animal looks fully white due to the lack of melanin in their skin. Wildlife experts say that the biggest problem with these Albinos is that they are singled out by predators and hunted.

Distribution and habitat

Antelope Jumping in Hyderabad

Blackbucks originally ranged over large tracts of India except in north-eastern India. Today the blackbuck population is confined to areas in Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with a few small pockets in Central India.^[7][8]

In Nepal, the last surviving population of blackbuck is found in the Blackbuck Conservation Area south of the Bardia National Park. In 2008, the population was estimated to comprise 184 individuals.^[9]

There are four subspecies or geographic races

• Antilope cervicapra cervicapra
• Antilope cervicapra rajputanae
• Antilope cervicapra centralis
• Antilope cervicapra rupicapra

Ecology and behaviour

Blackbuck fleeing at Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu, India

Blackbucks generally live on open plains in herds of 15 to 20 animals with one dominant male.

Blackbucks are very fast. Speeds of more than 80 km/h (50 mph) have been recorded.^[2]

Its chief predator was the now extinct Indian cheetah. It is now sometimes preyed upon by wolves and feral dogs.^{[citation needed]}

The diet of the blackbuck consists mostly of grasses, although it will eat pods, flowers and fruits to supplement its diet. The maximum life span recorded is 16 years and the average is 12 years.^{[citation needed]}

Threats

Royalty hunting blackbuck with Asiatic Cheetah in South Gujarat, 1812

Akbar Hunting Black Buck-Akbarnama

The main threats to the species are poaching, predation, habitat destruction, overgrazing, diseases, inbreeding and sanctuary visitors.

Large herds once roamed freely on the plains of North India, where they thrived best. During the 18th, 19teenth and the first half of the 20th centuries, blackbuck was the most hunted wild animal all over India. Until India's independence, many princely states used to hunt this antelope and Indian gazelle, the Chinkara with specially trained pet Asiatic Cheetah. It used to be one of the most abundant hoofed mammal in the Indian subcontinent, so much so that as late as early 1900s, naturalist Richard Lydekker mentions herds of hundreds in his writings, though today only small herds are seen that too inside reserves, chief reason of their decline being excessive hunting.^[5] Till Indian independence in 1947, many princely states used to hunt the Indian Antelope and gazelle with cheetahs, which became extinct in 1960s. Though the royal sport had ended, growing cultivation saw it as crop-raider, further leading to its decline. Eventually, when in the 1970s several areas reported their extinction, it was enlisted as a protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.^[10] The blackbuck is hunted for its flesh and its skin. 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. The natural habitat of the Blackbuck is being encroached upon by man's need for arable land and grazing ground for domesticated cattle. Exposure to domesticated cattle also renders the Blackbuck exposed to bovine diseases.

Its protected status has gained publicity through a widely reported court case, in which one of India's leading film stars, Salman Khan, was sentenced to five years imprisonment for killing two blackbucks and several endangered chinkaras. The arrest was prompted by intense protests from the Bishnoi ethnic group, which holds animals and trees sacred, and on whose land the hunting had taken place.

In another notorious incident of criminal poaching, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi also killed a blackbuck -[1], and then absconded as a fugitive. He finally surrendered only when the case was transferred from the criminal court to a Special Environment court, where he would face lighter sentencing.The Founder Chairman PFA Haryana Naresh Kadyan, whistle blower in this case also booked by Jhajjar Police for no reasons but he moved public interest litigation before High Court, Chandigarh and get transferred this case from Jhajjar to Faridabad.

Conservation

Male and female in Tamil Nadu, India.

Like most wild animals, the blackbuck is in principle protected in India by the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The blackbuck population is stable with 50,000 native individuals, plus an additional 43,000 descended from individuals introduced to Texas and Argentina. The species can be seen in zoos.

Blackbucks are protected in several protected areas of India and in Pakistan including:

• Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary, Punjab
• Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh
• Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan
• Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar, Gujarat
• Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, Rajasthan
• Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat
• Guindy National Park, Tamil Nadu
• Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Gujarat
• Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
• Kirthar National Park, Pakistan (kept in enclosures for possible reintroduction)
• Lal Suhanra National Park, Pakistan (kept in enclosures for possible reintroduction)
• Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve, Karnataka
• Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park, Andhra Pradesh
• Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
• Ranebennur Blackbuck Sanctuary, Karnataka
• Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan
• Rehakuri Sanctuary, Maharashtra
• Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
• Vallanad Blackbuck Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu^[11]

They are also found in an open area near Dindori, Madhya Pradesh at Karopani Black Buck Conservation Area, which is located approximately 15 km from Dindori.

In culture

The blackbuck is the provincial animal of India and known as Krishna Mriga in Kannada. Also known as Krishna Jinka in Telugu, it has been declared as the state animal of Andhra Pradesh. Other local names for the species include Krishnasar in Bengali, Kala Hiran, Sasin, Iralai Maan, and Kalveet in Marathi.^[12] It is often simply called Indian antelope though this term might also be used for other Antilopinae from the region.

The skin of Krishna Mrigam plays an important role in Hinduism, and Brahmin boys are traditionally required to wear a strip of unleathered hide after performing Upanayanam.

According to the Hindu mythology Blackbuck or Krishna Jinka is considered as the vehicle (vahana) of the Moon-god Chandrama.

According to the Garuda Purana of Hindu Mythology, Krishna Jinka bestows prosperity in the areas where they live.

A blackbuck is featured in the 2010 film Prince of Persia.

References

• Fact file of Blackbuck