Chinkara
Indian Gazelle
Gazella bennettii
Kumbhargaon Grasslands, Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary & Kadbanwadi Grasslands, Indapur
Continuing the series on ungulates today is about a gazelle, one of many antelope species in the genus Gazella - the Chinkara or the Indian Gazelle. The Chinkara is an even-toed ungulate belonging to the subfamily of Antilopinae and family Bovidae. The Indian gazelle or chinkara is among the six species of antelopes found in India
The Bovidae comprise the biological family of cloven-hoofed, ruminant mammals that include cattle, bison, buffalo, antelopes and caprines. A member of this family is called a bovid. With 143 extant species and 300 known extinct species, the family Bovidae consists of 11 (or two) major subfamilies and thirteen major tribes. The family evolved 20 million years ago, in the early Miocene.
But today we are focused only on one of the Antilopini, a tribe of bovids often referred as true antelopes like gazelles. They live in & around the Sahara, Horn of Africa, throughout eastern and Southern Africa and Eurasia. Depending on species, the females have either very short and/or thin horns compared with the males, or no horns at all. They have smooth and glossy tan and white coats. Most species have black stripes and facial markings. They have a territorial male as a leader in herds and sometimes group with other species, such as Grant’s gazelle joining with Thomson’s gazelle. They can reach top speeds of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) and have the ability to jump and turn sharply. They have adapted well to running in open environments
A gazelle is one of many antelope species in the genus Gazella. They are relatively small antelopes, most standing 60–110 cm high at the shoulder, and are generally fawn-colored. and are known as swift animals. Some are able to run at bursts as high as 100 km/h or run at a sustained speed of 50 km/h. Gazelles are found mostly in the deserts, grasslands, and savanna of Africa but they are also found in Southwest & Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. They tend to live in herds, and eat fine, easily digestible plants and leaves.
So first let me tell you about the beautiful grasslands I saw the chinkara in.
The grasslands of Kumbhargaon
When one looks to the south of Bhigwan, one sees the wide Ujni backwater wetlands - illustrated in this 16 photo single row panorama - a shallow waste water reserve formed by the discharge of water from the Pune region dams like Panshet, Pawna, Khadakwasla, Varasgaon, Temghar, etc. This semi waste water has created an excellent wetland based ecosystem supporting a large variety of water birds, both endemic and migratory, and also helped with the local agriculture. Nearly 300 species of endemic and migratory birds have been recorded here. The rainfall in the Pune region decides the water level in Ujni dam. Lesser the water, the shallower it becomes inviting more birds make it their home in the winter.
Surrounding this lush ecosystem are the rich grasslands and fertile farms home to an equally impressive list of birds, mammals and reptiles like the Indian courser, chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, blue-cheeked bee-eater, grey francolin, woolly-necked stork, and demoiselle cranes. The Indian chameleon is often seen here and after dark, creatures of the night like the leopard gecko and termite hill gecko are out and about. Although rare, the common sand boa, rat snake, and Russell’s viper are also spotted. The open areas around the villages host mammals like the black-naped hare, jungle cat, golden jackal, and Indian grey mongoose. The Asian palm civet can also be seen, especially at night. The extensive grasslands protect many mammals like the Chinkara, Hyena, Wolf and Indian fox. It is also popular for grassland birds and the birds of prey, including the Steppe Eagle and the rare Eastern Imperial Eagle. While largely unnoticed, frogs, toads, damselflies, dragonflies, beetles, and scorpions also inhabit the area. A study published by the Zoological Survey of India in 2002 reported 54 species of fish.
Apart from the grasslands, specifically for the migratory water birds, there are two areas where one can observe them:
the Diksal area &
the Kumbharwadi area.
Read more about some of the birds I have photographed in and around the Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary and the Kumbhargaon grasslands area.
During my time here we were hosted by and had the expert help of Sandip Nagare and his team of knowledgeable guides from the Agnipankha Bird Watcher group, especially Ganesh Bhoi, who went out of their way to ensure we had fantastic opportunities to explore, discover, observe & photograph over 82 species of birds and wildlife including some rare ones. We stayed at Sandip’s homestay of the same name and had the added pleasure of indulging in delectable home cooked food.
Now onto the dainty & shy Chinkara.
Chinkara/ Indian Gazelle
The Chinkara (Gazella bennettii), also known as the Indian gazelle, is among the six species of antelopes found in India and is also native to Iran, Afghanistan & Pakistan. It stands at 65 cm tall and weighs about 23 kg. 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. Its horns reach over 39 cm. 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.
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.
The following six subspecies are considered valid:
Deccan Chinkara (G. b. bennettii) (Sykes 1831) – ranges from South India, from the Ganges Valley east to the borders of West Bengal and south at least to Hyderabad in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and the Deccan Plateau;
Gujarat Chinkara (G. b. christii) (Blyth, 1842) – ranges from the desert lowlands of Pakistan, western India, Rann of Kutch, Kathiawar, Saurashtra and as far east as Ahmedabad district in Gujarat;
Kennion Gazelle, eastern jebeer gazelle or Baluchistan gazelle (G. b. fuscifrons) (Blanford, 1873) – occurs in eastern Iran, (southeast and along the Makran Coast, Sistine and Baluchistan, Southern Afghanistan, in Pakistan from Baluchistan Province to Singh and north western India, Rajasthan. This is also the darkest subspecies;
Bushehr Gazelle (G. b. karamii) (Groves, 1993) – ranges in northeastern Iran, restricted near Bushehr, also the smallest subspecies;
Jebeer Gazelle, western jebeer gazelle or Shikari gazelle (G. b. shikarii) (Groves, 1993) – Lives in northeastern Iran, north and west-central districts (Touran, west to Tehran and southwest to Shiraz County and beyond), also the palest subspecies;
Salt Range gazelle (G. b. salinarum) (Groves, 2003) – ranges in Pakistan, Punjab region and east as far as Delhi, Indian Punjab, Haryana in northwest India, salt range;
Chinkara live in arid plains and hills, deserts, dry scrub & light forests. They inhabit more than 80 protected areas in India. In Pakistan, they range up to elevations of 1,500 m (4,900 ft). In Iran, their largest population is the Kavir National Park.
In 2001, the Indian chinkara population was estimated at 100,000 with 80,000 living in the Thar Desert. The population in Pakistan is scattered, and has been severely reduced by hunting. Also in Iran, the population is fragmented. In Afghanistan, chinkaras are probably very rare.
Chinkaras are shy and avoid human habitation. They can go without water for long periods and can get sufficient fluids from plants and dew droplets that get deposited on the plant surface in the night. Although most are seen alone, they can sometimes be spotted in groups of up to four animals.
Status of the Indian Gazelle (Gazella bennettii Sykes, 1831) in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Worldwide-distribution-of-Gazella-bennettii_fig1_226157066 [accessed 26 Nov, 2022]Chinkaras are preyed upon by leopards, Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions and dholes. The chinkara was a common prey of the Asiatic cheetah in India alongside blackbucks. Outside protected areas they may be attacked by pariah dogs, and both wolves and golden jackals are also known to hunt them.
The chinkara is assessed by the IUCN Red List as least concern and included in the CITES Appendix III, so trade is allowed only on presentation of the appropriate permits or certificates, for the population in Pakistan. The species is included in the CMS Central Asian Mammals Initiative (CAMI)adopted in 2014 and its Programme of Work (POW). The POW suggests the following activities for chinkara populations: to develop sub-regional programme for conservation and restoration of the species and to assess reintroductions where needed and where suitable habitat exists.
The chinkara occurs in over 80 protected areas in India. In January 2016, the Karnataka government issued a notification to establish a sanctuary especially for chinkara in the Yadahalli village in the Bagalkot district of the state. This region shelters a major population of chinkara. The Karnataka Government also notified the Bukkapatna Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary in Tumkur district in May 2019. The chinkara is protected in that's distribution areas of Iran and five of Pakistan.
The chinkara is threatened by extensive hunting for meat and trophies in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. Other threats include habitat loss due to agricultural and industrial expansion. The status in these countries is unclear. Around 1,300 individuals occur in Iran. However, the situation in India is not so grim; in 2001, populations were estimated at over one million in the country, of which nearly 80,000 occur in the Thar desert, with a stable population trend. It has been listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List.
In 1993, a controversy erupted when the Gujarat government issued a decree to denotify the Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, that contains a small population of chinkara, to allow mining of lignite, limestone, bentonite and bauxite inside the sanctuary. This was, however, rejected by the Gujarat High Court, and the sanctuary was restored to its earlier limits.
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