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Small numbers of this beautiful antelope
occur on the Kanha meadows. Adult males have superb black
and white coats, the black turning to rusty brown during
the moult. Young males, females and fawns are pale sandy-brown
and white. Only the males bear the long, spiralled horns.
Despite their small numbers, they are always
to be seen, as they keep to the open meadows. The blackbuck
seems to have no alarm call, but rather an alert posture
with body erect and head raised in the air. When fleeing
they are often seen to 'stot' - this action involves bounding
along in a series of high, springly hops. One possible explanation
for this is that it enables the 'stotting' blackbuck to
look for predators from a higher viewpoint. Another theory
is that by 'stotting' the blackbuck is in effect saying
to predators "Look how high I can jump! You'll never
catch me, so don't try!"
At Kanha, the males hold territories of about
20 acres during the breeding season. Blackbucks seem to
form breeding herds composed of one or more bucks plus fawns
and does between February and November, with bachelor bucks
living in all-male groups. In the cool season, however,
less rigid groupings occur.
Food
Grasses.
Breeding
Peak ruts in April and August / October. One, sometimes
two, young born after six months gestation period.
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