Blue Bull / Nilgai

Blue bulls, despite their constant conflict with villagers across almost every part of India, are still present in large numbers. Even though they might be quite commonly seen, a good size male presents quite an awesome picture. They can grow upto a height of 130 - 140 cms at the shoulders and can weigh the same as a decent size horse. They have a life expectancy of 20 -30 years, most of which they prefer to spend in open jungles and scrubby grasslands. They tend to keep away from dense jungles to avoid the obvious danger of lurking predators. Their diet is quite varied and covers almost anything that falls under the term "vegetation".

Nilgai are quite commonly seen all across the central and north India

A decent size male can present quite an awesome sight

The male members of this species have horns that grow to a length of 20cm. Adult males are of an excellent dark grey colouration, whereas the females are a lighter fawn. The males also have a coarse dark tuft of hair on the underside of the neck. Another interesting marking is a white patch above each hoof. There is no specific breeding period and they have a gestation period of around 8 - 9 months. Another reason for their growing numbers is that man finds no part of it useful for trade or consumption. It is considered a sacred animal.

Although the Blue bull, which is the largest asiatic antelope, can be seen across many areas of India, there are some reserves where sightings are very abundant. These are Sariska, Sultanpur, Ranthambore and Panna.