Blackbuck or Kala Hiran - Interesting Facts | Wildlife of Pakistan

Blackbuck or Kala Hiran
Antelope cervicapra

Pakistan has been blessed with immense beauty. There are many types of beautiful wild animals in Pakistan that are unique in their beauty. In today's video of Pakistan's Wildlife Series, we will talk about a beautiful wild animal found in Pakistan called the blackbuck.

The blackbuck is also called as Kala Hiran in Urdu and Hindi but it is not really a deer, it is an antelope. It is wrong to call it a deer. There is a big difference between antelope and deer.

1. Deer have antlers while antelope has horns
2. Antlers are branched while horns are without branches
3. Antlers fall off after breeding while the horns are permanent.

It is named the Blackbuck because its adult males are black. The blackbuck is a beautiful and fast running animal. It can grow to a height of 80-75 cm and weigh between 32 and 42 kg. The upper part of the body is brown which turns black in adult males. The lower part of the body is white in males and yellowish brown in females and kids. Males have horns without branches . Females are without horns. They have large pre-orbital glands under their eyes.

It usually prefers to live in semi-desert areas along lakes. During the day they hide in the bushes and go out at night. Blackbuck live in groups and in them the male mixes with more than one female. Their group consists of a large male and many females and children. They eat grass. If they are disturbed, they make beautiful leaps and go away.

There was a time when blackbuck were abundant in Bahawalnagar and Fort Abbas in the Cholistan Desert in Pakistan. In those days, Pakistan also gave some blackbucks to the United States, which were bred in the US state of Texas and their number increased significantly. Blackbuck were hunted so ruthlessly in Pakistan that they became extinct in Pakistan. When such a beautiful animal became extinct, the wildlife department realized its significance. After the extinction of blackbuck from Pakistan, Pakistani authorities again bought blackbuck from the US state of Texas and kept them safely inside Lal Sahanra National Park in Punjab and Kirther National Park in Sindh. According to recent reports, the number of blackbucks in these two national parks has increased significantly.

Outside Pakistan, blackbuck is are also found in India and Nepal. It has also been introduced wildly in the United States and Argentina. The population of blackbuck in Nepal is very limited and there are only a few hundred left. In India too, the majority of the black deer population has been wiped out, after which the rest of the female population has been kept under strict surveillance.

In winter, blackbuck spend most of the day grazing, but in summer they usually graze in the morning and evening. If danger is felt during grazing, the females make a distinctive noise and usually one of the females jumps into the air to warn the rest of the herd of danger, after which the whole group runs away. Their ability to smell and hear is impaired but their eyesight is very sharp.

The blackbuck is one of the fastest running animals with a speed of more than 80 km per hour. During the breeding season, males choose their own territory and defend it against rival males. This area can cover an area of ​​1 to 17 hectares. In addition to breeding, many males and females can be seen together in their herd.

Their gestation period is 5 months. Females usually give birth to only one child, but sometimes two. Babies are breastfed for 5 to 6 months. Females reach puberty at 10 to 12 months, while males reach puberty at 18 to 20 months of age. They live 12 to 15 years in the wild and 18 years in prison.

Blackbuck diet includes a variety of grasses. In addition to grasses, they also eat leaves and wild fruits. They like to live in semi-desert, plain and slightly forested areas. Due to the constant need for water, they prefer areas where plenty of water is available.

According to the IUCN, blackbuck are considered endangered species. That is, if proper measures are not taken to protect them, this species may be wiped off the face of the earth forever in the near future.

In India, the black deer is sacred to Hindus. In Hindu mythology, the black deer is considered to be Lord Krishna's chariot, while in Tamil Nadu, it is considered to be the ride of the goddess Koravai. Indian Bollywood actor, Salman Khan hunted blackbuck near Jodhpur during the shooting of film "Hum Saath Saath Hai". In 2018, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison in this case.

Blackbuck has been a favorite prey of the Mughal emperors for centuries and later the British officers of the East India Company. However, due to its speed, the Mughal kings and the British also kept cheetahs to hunt them.

Видео Blackbuck or Kala Hiran - Interesting Facts | Wildlife of Pakistan канала Nisar Ahmad TV