Nilgai

(Boselaphus tragocamelus)

Live: Northern India and eastern Parkistan

Habitat: Grasslands and woodlands grasses, leaves, buds, and fruit

Diet: Grasses, leaves

Gestation: After an 8 month gestation period, over 60% of births result in twins, though births of 1 or 3 do occur

Longevity: Some have been known to live up to 21 years

Status: Low risk

General: A blue bull is called as nil gai or nilgai in India, literally from nil meaning blue and gai meaning a bovine animal (contrary to popular belief, a female bovine such as a cow is called gabhih in formal sanskrit). This local belief, that the nilgai is a cow and hence sacred, has protected it against hunting.

However, the nilgai is a crop menace and has been declared as vermin in northern India and they may be legally hunted after obtaining a permit.

Nilgai can be seen with black bucks in the open plains, and in the lower Terai regions they may be seen together with chital (Axis axis) and 'para' or hog deer (Axis porcinus). The chital and hog deer, being smaller in size, usually keep a respectful distance from the much larger nilgai.