Chinkara

Indian gazelle

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Subphylum

Vertebrata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Artiodactyla

Family

Bovidae

Subfamily

Antilopinae

Genus

Gazella

SPECIES

Gazella bennettii

Population size

50-70 Thou

Life Span

12-15 yrs

TOP SPEED

50-60 km/h

WEIGHT

23-25 kg

HEIGHT

65 cm

LENGTH

30-40 cm

The Chinkara is a type of gazelle species that are native to southern Asia. They have a reddish-buff summer coat with smooth, glossy fur. In winter their coat becomes lighter, almost white. The reddish color of their coat helps them to hide better in the grassland from predators. The sides of their face have dark chestnut stripes from the corner of the eye to the muzzle, bordered by white stripes.

Nocturnal

Herbivore

Folivore

Frugivore

Terrestrial

Cursorial

Precocial

Grazing

Browsing

Generally solitary

Sedentary

Distribution

Chinkara are native to Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. They live in arid plains and hills, deserts, dry scrub, and light forests. They inhabit more than 80 protected areas in India. In Iran, these gazelles inhabit the Kavir National Park.

Geography

Continents

Asia

Subcontinents

South Asia, Western Asia, Central Asia

Countries

Afghanistan, India, Iran, Pakistan

Biome

Tropical dry forest

Tropical savanna

Desert and Xeric Shrublands

Climate zones

Tropical

Dry\Desert

Chinkara or Indian gazelle - Gazella bennettii - 04

Habits and Lifestyle

Chinkara are very shy creatures and avoid human habitation. Most of the time they spend alone, however, can sometimes gather in small groups of up to four animals. Males are territorial and will chase other males away from their territory. These gazelles are very agile; they run in leaps and bounds and can jump up to 6-7 meters in height. When feeling threatned, they will stamp their fore foot and produce a sneeze like hiss through the nose. Chinkara prefer to feed at nighttime and are most active just before the sunset and during the night.

Group name

herd

Lifestyle

Terrestrial, Cursorial, Precocial, Grazing, Browsing

Seasonal behavior

Sedentary

Diet and Nutrition

Chinkara are herbivores (folivores, frugivores). They feed on grasses, different leaves, and fruits (melon, pumpkin). These gazelles can go without water for many days and can get fluids from plants the feed on and dew.

Diet Herbivore, Folivore, Frugivore

Mating Habits

REPRODUCTION SEASON

August-October; March-April

PREGNANCY DURATION

5-5.5 months

BABY CARRYING

1 calf

INDEPENDENT AGE

2-12 months

FEMALE NAME

cow

MALE NAME

bull

BABY NAME

calf, fawn

Little is known about the mating system in Chinkara. During the breeding season males compete with each other for females, which may suggest that these gazelles are polygynous. Chinkara breed twice a year, in late August-October, and then again in March-April. Females usually give birth to a single calf after the gestation period that lasts around 5 or 5.5 months. Calves are born fully-developed and are nursed for 2 months. They may stay with their mother up to 12 months when another calf is born. Females in this species become reproductively mature at 1 year of age, while males attain reproductive maturity when they are 2 years old.

Population Trend

Decreasing

POPULATION STATUS

Least concern (LC)

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Population

Population threats

The major threat to Chinkara is overhunting for meat and trophies in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. Another serious threat is habitat loss due to agricultural and industrial expansion, and overgrazing.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of Chinkara is around 50,000-70,000 mature individuals. There are also estimated populations of this species in the following areas: in India (in 2011) there were more than 100,000 animals with 80,000 animals living in the Tahr Desert; in Iran - around 1,300 animals. Currently, Chinkara are classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but their numbers today are decreasing.

Ecological niche

Due to their habit of eating fruits, Chinkara may play a very important role in their ecosystem as seed dispersers.

Chinkara

Photos with Chinkara

Distribution

Geography

Biome

Climate zones

Habits and Lifestyle

Diet and Nutrition

Mating Habits

Population

Population threats

Population number

Ecological niche

References

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About

Chinkara

Photos with Chinkara

Distribution

Geography

Biome

Climate zones

Habits and Lifestyle

Diet and Nutrition

Mating Habits

Population

Population threats

Population number

Ecological niche

References

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