Four major types of antelopes in India

IUCN status: Least Concern
The nilgai is the largest Asian antelope species and is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent.
Most of their population is found in northwest India on lowlands located in the foothills of the Himalayas, but their range extends southward into central India.

IUCN status: Least Concern
They are primarily found in the northwestern region of India in the state of Rajasthan (about 70%). They are protected by the Bishnoi Community in Rajasthan. Apart from it, it is also found in Central India.
Indian gazelles eat fruits such as pumpkins and melons and thus act as seed dispersers.
Indian gazelles have nocturnal feeding habits and are most active just prior to sunset and throughout the night.

IUCN status: Vulnerable
It is found only in India and Nepal. Only males grow horns.
These animals are sedentary and inhabit the same region throughout their lives. THey are very shy animals and avoid human contact.

IUCN status: Least Concern
Blackbuck can form massive social aggregations up to several hundred, although most herds consist of 5 to 50 individuals
Declared regionally extinct in Pakistan and Bangladesh, Blackbuck now mainly occur in India with a small population in Nepal.
They like open habitats such as grassy plains and thinly forested areas, which allow them to spot predators from long distances as well as providing grazing forage.
Due to co-evolution with cheetahs as their main predator, Blackbucks are very fast and rely on speed to escape from their main predators.

Bidar district, which is northernmost district in Karnataka has recently reported two herds of Nilgai in the district. With this, Bidar district has become home for the first time to all the four major types of antelopes found in the country.
In other news, Odisha’s Blackbuck population has doubled in the last 6 years.

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