Common name: Nilgai
Scientific name: Boselaphus tragocamelus
Conservation Status: Least Concern
At the zoo: Nancy (female, 18y); you can find her in with her oryx friends at the SW corner of the zoo.
Habitat:
Nilgai are found in Nepal, Pakistan, and India. They have also been introduced to Mexico and the United States.
Diet:
Nilgai enjoy grasses, leaves, buds and sometimes fruit.
Median Life Expectancy:
24 years
Biology:
Nilgai are the largest of the Asian antelopes. Normally silent, they have been heard making roaring vocalizations during mating season or when they feel threatened. They have white patches on their face and under their chin. The males have a tuft of hair below the "bib" that looks like a beard. The males also have short horns.
Although extinct in Bangladesh and rare in Pakistan, populations are currently stable in Nepal and India due to its resemblance to the cow, an animal considered sacred by Hindus. The greyish-blue coat acquired by mature males cause them to also be known as Bluebuck. Their name is derived from the Hindi word Nilgaw, which translates to “Blue Bull”.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that Nilgai release scent from a gland in their feet to mark their resting places?
