Mammals · Artiodactyla · Bovidae
Nilgai
Boselaphus tragocamelus
Least Concern
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
The nilgai is the largest antelope in Asia. It shows striking dimorphism: adult males are blue-grey with white legs and short, straight horns, while females and young animals are tawny and hornless. Its name means blue cow in Hindi and Urdu, and that association with the sacred cow has protected it from hunting in India for centuries. It lives in small groups in open country and eats grasses, leaves and fruit.
Weight
100 kg – 300 kg
Size
1.7 m – 2.1 m
Life expectancy
15 years
