Blackbuck

The blackbuck is an antelope native to the Indian subcontinent, which includes modern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Today there are an estimated 50,000 in the wild in India (up from 22,000 in the 1970s), mostly in national parks, and it is extinct in Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. It has also been introduced in Argentina and the U.S. with estimated populations of 8,600 and 35,000 respectively. Blackbucks were introduced to Texas in 1932. 

Two male blackbucks at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas.

A young or female blackbuck.

Female and young blackbucks have heads, backs and the outside of the legs that are yellowish/fawn colored. Male blackbucks darken with age and when older are blackish brown in the same areas, except for the nape which remains rufous/brown. Both sexes are white on the underparts, around the eyes and on the inside of the legs. The male has beautiful long spiralling horns with rings arranged in a v-shape.  

The rufous/brown nape stands out against the black back and head.

The distinctive walk with nose held high into the air.

Pointed hooves and beautiful spiral horns. Black on outer legs and white on inner legs.

White rump.

Backside view.

We saw quite a few blackbuck at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas. Aside from the beautiful coloring and horns on the males, what made them distinctive was the male's quirk of walking along with its nose pointed into the air with its head held back, giving it the air of a snooty imperialist, or at least an antelope with a nose bleed. 

A young male.

A younger male and older male.

Short tail.