Chinkara

About this species

Size

About 65cm tall

Weight

About 23kg

Diet

Leaves and grasses

Habitat

Arid plains and hilly country, deserts, dry scrub and light or open forest

Range

India, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan

The chinkara, or Indian gazelle, stands about 65 cm tall and weighs about 23 kg. It has a smooth, glossy reddish-buff summer coat, and in winter the white belly and throat contrast more. Dark chestnut stripes run from the corner of each eye to the muzzle, bordered by white stripes. The straight, prominently ringed horns can exceed 39 cm (Wikipedia, general species account).

It lives on arid plains and hilly country, in deserts, dry scrub and light or open forest, and occurs in more than 80 protected areas in India. It is most common in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, with sparser populations in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana. It is a swift, agile browser of leaves and grasses, mostly nocturnal and crepuscular, usually seen alone or in small groups. Males are territorial, and calves stay with their mother for up to 12 months (Wikipedia, general species account).

Description: Wildlife of India guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)