Food and Feeding Ecology of Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Nilgai is largest and fast moving Indian antelope. In western Rajasthan it is commonly known as Roj. It is protected under the schedule III of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It lives in herd and starts daily activities before the sun rise. Mainly Nilgai is grazer but it became browser in the scarcity of grasses during winter and summer. During monsoon the Nilgai Preferred green grasses and herbs very much while browsed only on leaves and young twigs of Prosopis cineraria, Ziziphus nummulariaand Acacia senegal. The feeding preferences changed according to season and depended upon availability and quality of vegetation. Nilgai did not prefer the Gramno (Panicum antidotale), Murat (Penicum turgidum), Karad (Dichanthium annulatum), Moth (Cyperus rotundus), Kheemp (Leptadenia pyrotechnica), Angreji babul (Prosopis juliflora), Jal (Salvadora spp.), Bui (Aerva javanica), Murat makro (Brachiaria ramose) etc. in monsoon season. During summer they were observed feeding upon those plants which were avoided by them during monsoon and winter. In agricultural field Nilgai damaged the Kharif crop maximum at fruiting stage of them the fruit of Matira (Citrullus lanatus) were highly preferred.