STUDIES ON ETHOLOGY AND ECO-PHYSIOLOGY OF THE ANTELOPES OF THE INDIANDESERT

The present paper deals with the findings of a long term study conduct ed on the ethology and eco-physiology of the antelopes, the chinkara o r the Indian gazelle (Gazella bennetti), the blackbuck (Antilope cervi capra) and the nilgai (Baselaphus tragocamelus) inhabiting the arid re gion of India. The blackbuck is basically a grazer and prefers open sc rub lands, saline flats or gravelly to hard pan soil having a waterhol e nearby, whereas the chinkara is a browser and prefers sandy undulati ng or duny slopes or sandy to loamy bush lands and fallows. The presen ce of waterhole (s) in the chinkara habitat is desirable but is not es sential. The chinkara's preference for moisture laden leaves and flowe rs and its habit of seeking shade during the hottest part of the day c urtails its dependence on free water intake. The nilgai's preferred ha unts are gravelly wasteland and piedmont areas as well as hard pan are as. Their numbers are considerably high around irrigated double croppe d agricultural fields. The blackbuck and chinkara population are gener ally dwindling and hence they need protection whereas the nilgai has p roved to be a menace to the standing crops as well as stored agricultu ral produce. The blackbuck and the chinkara may be further protected b y demarcating sonic more areas around the Bishnoi dominated villages f or preservation of the whole eco- system. These areas should be suitab ly fenced and should have assured feed and water supply which will kee p the animals away from the crop fields. Special attention is required to be given to the problem of the fast multiplying nilgai population in the desert region. Uptil now, no viable method is available to keep the nilgais away from the crop fields.