Blackbuck

Introduction

The blackbuck is also called Indian antelope and lies in antelope category. They can be seen at Satpura tiger reserve area. In conservation status they lies in Least Concern category of IUCN. Still its sighting is not easy as they prefers meadows area and often seen at outskirts of tiger reserves, close to human establishments. They are often seen near by areas of agricultural fields thus when we do jeep safaris, we rarely have there sighting. They remain active in day-time thus for there photography, one should avoid any night safari drives and try more for day safari drives.

Habitat

Blackbucks in Satpura national park are sometimes seen in Madhai zone area, close to patrol camps which are in plain area with some grasslands. As per there family i.e. Antelope (Bovidae) they avoids hilly terrains or densely forested area. They prefer the habitat with vast meadows area having grasses, source of perennial water and absence of trees cluster. This type of habitat is mostly available at buffer zones where villages are near by.

Breeding

In blackbucks, we can find mating goes on throughout the year and relatively increases in springs and monsoon season thus we can find the courtship during months from July to October and mid of February to end of March. Here male members uses lekking behavior to impress or persuade female members for mating. Female becomes sexually mature on age of at least 8 months but ready for mating till they achieved age of 2 years. Similarly male get maturity at the age of 18 months. Rutting behavior can be observed from male members and they show there territorial behavior to avoid other males to come nearby them. There gestation period is of 6 moths and they produce single calf at a time due to which there population growth is comparatively slow.

Sighting

When it come to blackbuck sighting at Satpura national park, we have seen there presence in Madhai safari zone but it is occasional sighting. For better sighting, we should try for buffer safari zones like Jamani dev zone, Parsapani zone, adjoining forest of Bori wildlife sanctuary and some areas of Burgodi buffer safari zone. They can be seen at vast grasslands adjoining to village establishment thus better photography opportunity will be in buffer safari zones.