Black buck

Name: Black buck

Female: Doe

Male: Buck

Young ones: Calf

Food: Plants, mesquite, witchgrass, live oak and acacia trees.

Life span: 10-15 years

Sound/s: Dik-diks whistle

Habitat: Gir Forest National Park, Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanha National Park, Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary in India. Also Nepal and Pakistan.

Other facts

• The most remarkable feature of a male black buck is its long, spiralling horns, which range from the base to several tips. Females don’t have horns.
• The back, sides and outer side of legs are dark brown in males and yellowish in females.
• They rely on their eyesight to steer clear of danger.
• Posture and movements are good indicators of a black buck’s mood.
• Several local tribes in India revere them and prohibit hunting them.
• Black bucks are an endangered species because of the destruction of their habitat.