EN
Nilgai – Boselaphus tragocamelus
Nilgai – Boselaphus tragocamelus
The Nilgai is a species of cattle which is found in India, it is the largest indian antelope. It is the only species of the genus Boselaphus.
It has a small head and the male’s coat is gray or gray-blue, that of the female is brown. It is a fierce animal that lives in small groups of 4 to 20 individuals or alone. Mature male relies on his heightened senses to escape predators like tiger.
Its body measures between 1.80 m and 2.10 m. The front legs are longer than the back legs. The coat of members is dark gray and has a white circle just above the fetlock. The male has a tuft of hair at the throat. Only the male has small 20 cm long rounded horns. Its adult weight varies from 120 to 180 kg for females and 200 to 300 kg for males.
Sexual maturity is at 18 months, gestation lasts from 8 to 9 months and the number of young per litter is 2 pups, born between June and October. Its lifetime is estimated at 21 years.
