 | Blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra) are antelope named for the black coat of the dominant males. Males who are not dominant, as well as the females and young, are a light tan. All blackbucks have the white eye ring, belly and legs. ______________________________ This is one of our beautiful, mature blackbucks showing the jet black color that gives them their name. |
| The male
blackbucks darken in winter, but only the most dominant and aggressive
males remain black in the summer. The less aggressive bucks darken up somewhat
in the winter, and then fade back to tan in summer. These non dominant
bucks might keep some traces of black in their faces and legs. An unhealthy
buck will stay tan and stop changing color. The females do not usually have horns, and when they do have them, they don't have the spiral of the male horns. Male horns have a V shape overall, and each horn makes a corkscrew, and the horns also have rings. Horns in the range of 20" are considered good. The world record is 34.75". Blackbuck antelope come from India, and the animals' size varies based on which part of India they come from, and theirsizes and weights vary a lot. Males stand about 29" at the shoulder, and weigh from 43 to 125lbs. That's a three fold difference! Females are around 27" tall and weigh from 42 to 70lbs. These gorgeous animals most prefer graze, but blackbucks will shift to browse, mast and forbs when they have to. They live mostly in the open plains where the grazing is. Their social groups are made up of females with their young; there are the young bachelor groups, and finally the territorial males. There is no special mating season, and fawns are born any time of the year. Blackbucks are excellent eating, and their meat is considered a real delicacy. |
| BLACKBUCK
1 BLACKBUCK 2 ANIMALS |