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Black Buck


Black Buck
Photo Information
Copyright: Akshay Harith (S_Akshay) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 30 W: 11 N: 117] (561)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon DSLR D200, Sigma100-300mm HSM APO with sigma 1.4XTC
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-11 9:39
Viewed: 278
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Bovidae

Subfamily: Antilopinae

Genus: Antilope
Pallas, 1766
Species: A. cervicapra


Binomial name
Antilope cervicapra

Blackbuck is a species of antelope found mainly in India, but also in parts of Pakistan and Nepal. There are also introduced populations in various parts of the world including numerous ranches in Texas in the United States of America; free-ranging populations also exist in Argentina .

The horns of the Blackbuck are ringed with 1 to 4 turns, rarely more than 4 turns, and can be as long as 28 inches. A trophy Blackbuck is 18+ inches. In the male, the upper body is black (dark brown), and the belly and eye rings are white. The light-brown female is usually hornless. Blackbucks usually roam the plains in herds of 15 to 20 animals with one dominant male.

The main threats to the species are

Poaching
Predation
Habitat destruction
Overgrazing
Diseases
Inbreeding
Visitors

The Blackbuck is hunted for its flesh and its skin. Although Indian law strictly prohibits the hunting of these endangered animals, there are still occasional incidents of poaching. The remaining populations are under threat from inbreeding. The natural habitat of the Blackbuck is being encroached upon by man's need for arable land and grazing ground for domesticated cattle. Exposure to domesticated cattle also renders the Blackbuck exposed to bovine diseases. Once large herds freely roamed in the plains of North India, where they thrive best, but no longer. During the eighteenth, nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries, Blackbuck was the most hunted wild animal all over India. Until India's independence, many princely states used to hunt this antelope and the other local Indian gazelle, the Chinkara with specially trained pet Asiatic Cheetah. With their habitat of vast grasslands converted into farmlands due to human population explosion the Asiatic Cheetahs are now sadly extinct in India since its independence and in most of Asia, the very last few fight for survival in Iran. Fortunately the population is still stable with 50,000 native individuals, with an additional 43,000 introduced individuals to Texas and Argentina, the species could be seen in zoos.



Local names for the species include Kala hiran, Sasin, Iralai Maan, Krishna Jinka,Krishna Mriga in Kannada and Kalveet in Marathi. It is often simply called "Indian antelope" though this term might also be used for other Antilopinae from the region
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1891 W: 4 N: 5144] (19616)
  • [2008-07-11 9:43]

Hi Akshay. This a a good close up of this fine looking animal. I like the bold way he is standing and looking at you. very natural colours and detail . I can feel the heat from the sun in this picture well taken. good notes too.
TFS.
Nick..

Have a nice weekend

great pic but a bit milky, try to increase contrast. TFS Ori

Hello Akshay,
You certainly caught this proud fellow's attention.
Good moment and well composed.
TFS
Annick

Hi Junior,

The posture of the black buck is excellent, good compo, I think the back ground has given out, may little more contrast could help? TFS

Akshay, A very good picture considering the lighting conditions and the background you got.
- Murali Santhanam

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