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The Indian gazelle or chinkara, Gazella bennettii, is among the six species of antelopes found in India and has a wide distribution in Rajasthan. The Thar Desert of Rajasthan
has the maximum numbers of chinkara. A study was conducted to assess the Indian gazelle population in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan,
from November 1999 to December 2002 when 12...
Citations
... Recent research reported that Arabian ibex populations in Oman are declining due to habitat destruction, overgrazing, and poaching (Tichon et al. 2023). Likewise, ibex populations are declining in India's Aravalli Range due to habitat degradation, encroachment, and human disturbances (Dookia et al. 2009). The negative impact of habitat loss and human interference on ibex populations in the Thar desert of Rajasthan is also reported by Gehlot and Jakher (2011). ...
The increased pressures generated by human activities in form of climate change and habitat fragmentation have caused serious threats for Sindh ibex (Capra aegagrus blythii). Balochistan, recognized as one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change in Pakistan, has limited data on the distribution and population status of this species. To address this gap, our study aims to assess the spatial and temporal distribution and population trend of Sindh ibex in the Khuzdar and Lasbela districts of Balochistan. The study covered an area of approximately 45,123.97 km 2. It involved a double-observer survey at ten sites from 2019 to 2022, using the BBRecapture package in the R programming language to estimate ibex population trend and dispersion. We provided a comprehensive update of the species geographic range, along with estimates of its current abundance and population trends. Over the course of four years, the ibex population fluctuated. The ibexes detected dropped from 720 (male to female ratio 1:1.21) and 710 (male to female ratio 1:1.08) in 2019 and 2020, respectively, to 550 (male to female ratio 1:1.35) and 548 (male to female ratio 1:1.09). Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the population trends, gender ratios, habitat preferences, and density of Sindh ibex in Balochistan over the four-year period. These findings contribute significantly to the baseline data on the species ecology and will further help in the conservation of these species at local scale.
... The current study showed that Punjab urial is highly intolerant towards Indian gazelle. Indian gazelle is a nomadic and semi-nomadic species of deserts, sand dunes, semi-deserts, and arid range lands, adapted to movements searching for ephemeral and seasonal forage [57]. However, Punjab urial is resident to its habitats with comparatively higher elevations, and forages on all kinds of vegetation ranging from grasses to shrubs and trees [58]. ...
Natural wildlife habitats are regularly subjected to anthropogenic pressures for different
purposes, which are heading the biodiversity towards drastic decline. Several endangered wild species are raised in captivity with the aim of re-introduction. In some instances, mixed herds’ rearing approach in captivity is adopted for providing social enrichment to captive stocks; however, the impacts of species on each other are least documented. We tested our prediction that keeping mixed herds of captive wild sheep and antelopes provides adequate social enrichment to the captive stocks: if interspecific interactions are balanced. In the current study, we studied the interspecific competition between mixed herds of captive Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) and Indian gazelle (Gazella bennettii) at Manglot Wildlife Park, Nowshera District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. We documented the negative effects of behavioural interference by Punjab urial on the feeding behaviour of Indian gazelle. The outcome of the current study revealed that Punjab urial are highly intolerant towards Indian gazelle, with high interference during feeding. Out of the total aggressive events, 77% (N = 1259) of events ended up with win/loss, in which Punjab urial dominated the Indian gazelle 3.5 times. Moreover, lopsided dominance by Punjab urial resulted in increased intraspecific competition among Indian gazelle (p < 0.001). Current study divulged Indian gazelle to be the subordinate species, with less intake of food. Instead of providing social enrichment by heterospecifics, the Punjab urial is negatively affecting the Indian gazelle, therefore, the results of our study discourage the practice of admix captive breeding for wild sheep and antelopes.
... The genus Gazella (family: Bovidae, subfamily: Antilopinae) is represented by 14 species of ungulates 12 with a wide distribution across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East 14,21 . However, Gazella bennetti (indian gazelle or chinkara) is primarily habituates in the indian subcontinent 19,24,25 , with the biggest share is reported in the Rajasthan state of India and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan 7,13,26,27 . ...
... Their distribution is now facing drastic population decline 1,6,7,17,18,22,25,27 due to over hunting, habitat depletion, poaching, road widening projects, vehicular movement and lack of conservation awareness 9, 14, 17, 27 . ...
p>La gacela india es oriunda de la zona silvestre del norte de Pendjab (Pakistán). De acuerdo a las categorías de la lista roja de la Unión Internacional de Conservación de la Naturaleza y los Recursos Naturales, constituye una especie en peligro. El entendimiento de la genética de la respuesta inmune en esta especie puede ser útil para diseñar efectivas estrategias de conservación. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la diversidad genética molecular en la interleukina 2 (IL-2), secuencias de genes que ponen en peligro a G. bennetti como un gen que codifica una citokina involucrada en algunas actividades vitales de regulación de la respuesta inmune. El gen IL-2 (492 bp) fue amplificado y secuenciado en muestras de ADN colectadas de la naturaleza, así como de ejemplares cautivos de gacela india, seguidos por la alineación y el análisis filogenético. Los vecinos que unen el árbol construido de MEGA6 mostraron que G. bennetti es distinto de otros y forma un clado diferente. El análisis de los resultados del estudio mostró que las gacelas indias constituyen una única población aislada encontrada en Pakistán, la cual es endémica y está expuesta al peligro. Por consiguiente, las técnicas de conservación in-situ y ex-situ para G. bennetti constituyen una buena alternativa para evitar el peligro de extinción de la especie.</p
... In India, the Chinkara is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, included under Schedule 1 [1]. It is also traditionally protected by some ethnic communities such as Guda Bishnoian-Khejarli in the Jodhpur District, Alai-Satheran and Rotu in Nagaur, Chohtan and Gudamalani in Barmer, Bhadariyaji in Jaisalmer, Sanchor in Jalore, and Mukam-Samrathal in Bikaner [3]. ...
... obs. SP), Grey Wolf Canis lupus, Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena, Common Leopard Panthera pardus, Asiatic Lion Panthera leo, Dhole Cuon alpinus and stray dogs Canis domesticus;road traffic accidents, swallowing of plastic material, getting snared in wire fences, falling in open wells, poaching, and poisoning due to ingestion of pesticides and insecticides used in cropland are other risks[3,6,9,10]. ...
During the foaling season of 2020, we rehabilitated three fawns of Indian Chinkara (Gazella bennettii). After a medical check and
a feed, they were released in the area from which they had been collected and joined their assumed mothers in the wild. In all three
cases, the fawns readily fed on a formula of cow’s milk. All three rewilding sessions were documented with camera traps and the
females’ approach, and reunion with the fawn studied.
... In deserts, they occasionally graze cultivated fields with rape seeds and sorghum 3 . The animal is susceptible by feral dogs, habitat destruction, and poaching for meat consumption 5 . ...
Background: Study of behavioral conformations play a significant role in ex-situ conservation of ungulates particularly of deer to propagate deer farming. Due to advancement in animal hunting techniques, captive breeding is the best solution to propagate animals for sports or other traditional & medicinal uses. Due to the lack of management methods, captive breeding programs have been used on trial and error basis for rearing of wild animals like Chinkara.
Objectives: The present study was planned to investigate behavioral patterns in captivity to explore factors over reproductive success of the Chinkara and potential of this wild animal (Chinkara) for deer farming practices in Pakistan.
Methodology: Present study was conducted on the behavior of Chinkara (Gazella bennettii) [wild-caught (WC)=20, captive-bred (CB)=10] for a period of one year from April 2013 to March 2014 at Captive breeding facilities for ungulates, Ravi campus Pattoki, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Pakistan.
Results: The behavior of captive-born and wild-caught animals was observed by focal sampling pattern to frame conservation strategies for successful management practices for promotion of deer farming in Pakistan. Similar behavioral patterns were observed in both WC and CB animals but WC male Chinkara displayed a higher degree of agonistic interaction than of CB males. From these results it is predicted that there is no obvious immediate effect of captivity on behavioral configurations up to 10 generations in Chinkara.
Conclusion: It is suggested that Chinkara is not suitable for domestication like Goat until further studies on ethology of Chinkara.
... extensive poaching, livestock grazing) and land-use changes 11 . In India, populations of chinkara have been found to be distributed in 11 states [12][13][14][15] . Though the distribution is relatively widespread, the population is declining throughout its distribution range 16 . ...
... Chinkara is one among them known to extend from the Thar Desert to open scrub forests. Various studies have been conducted in different habitat types to estimate their density, like road surveys in desert areas and productive fields in Rajasthan 13,14,28,29 ; line transects in the forested areas or protected areas with forest cover in Kutch and Gir in Gujarat, and Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan [30][31][32] , but there has been a lack of consistency in the results. Estimates using road surveys for different studies in Rajasthan varied highly (Table 6). ...
Chinkara (Gazella bennettii), the Indian gazelle, is a widespread antelope in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Indian subcontinent; however, the species has been relatively unexplored to the south of its distribution range. In 2016, with indefinite evidence of chinkara presence in Yadahalli Reserved Forest, Karnataka, India, the Forest Department notified the area as a Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS). We conducted a study to explore their possible existence and population status at Yadahalli WLS using a novel approach. We laid 2 sq. km grid cells in the Yadahalli WLS and divided it into four replicated sub-grids using GPS. We walked the grid cells and recorded the chinkara mid-den and deployed camera traps for direct detection and individual identity. We recorded site covariates, i.e. tree density, tree diversity, basal area, food tree density, cattle dung, goat and sheep droppings and distance from the boundary, and detection covariates, i.e. trail length. We performed occupancy modelling based on midden recordings using PRESENCE ver. 5.3. Through the effort of 62 grids with four spatial replicates, the detection probability of chinkara was found to be 0.68 ± 0.03 SE , and the estimated averaged occupancy was 0.51 ± 0.37 SE. The present study reveals a potential population of ~85 individuals in the Yadahalli WLS, which is the known southernmost population of the species in India. This study establishes the use of novel methods for monitoring of chinkara populations which will help in the development of a conservation action plan for the species and its habitat.
... Chinkara and blue bull are two major competitive antelope species due to similarity in their resource use (Bagchi et al., 2003) and are distributed in scrubland, open woodland, dry deciduous forests and dune areas (Goyal & Rajpurohit, 2000;Rahmani, 1990;Rahmani, 2001). Both blue bull and chinkara occur near human settlements due to religious beliefs of local communities (Dookia et al., 2009;Rahmani, 2001). ...
... The density of chinkara in NSS was found 1.25 km −2 (Chhabara, 1989) and 2.89 km −2 (GEER & GUIDE 2001) which was more in compare to present study. The density of chinkara reported from other areas by Rahmani (2001), Dookia et al. (2009), Arshad & Gill (2010) and are higher than present study, possibly due to the distribution of chinkara is in large part of western Kachchh. Similarly, the density of blue bull was found less in western Kachchh compare to the other areas (Singh, 1995;Khan, et al. 1996;Aryal, 2007). ...
The habitat preference and social composition of the two antelope namely; chinkara and blue bull were studied. Study was conducted in arid part of Kachchh district, Gujarat. Line transect method applied to assess the population and distribution of the antelopes. It was found that 15.53% of individuals of blue bull were single or in pairs 68.93% in groups, while in chinkara 6.06% of individuals were solitary, 12.12% in pair and 81.82% in groups. The overall mean group size of blue bull in the study area was 2.43±1.55, while in chinkara it was 2.55±1.61. In conclusion, the abundance and density of these antelope had decreased and the social composition including group size and age-sex ratio was different in the arid part of kachchh in relation to existing population of these antelope in other parts of their natural distribution.
The deserts are found on every continent on the earth and cover about one fifth of the land area and one sixth of population on the earth. The types of desert include polar and tundra, cold winter, mild coastal, subtropical, etc. The major deserts in India include the cold mountain desert of Trans-Himalayas, the Thar Desert areas spread over Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab and the White salt desert of Kutch in Gujarat. The Thar Desert region of Rajasthan forms a major part of the 14th Agro-climatic region of the country named as the Western Dry Region which is delineated within the state of Rajasthan. In all, 60% of the Indian Thar Desert is found in the 12 administrative districts in the north-western part of Rajasthan. The Thar Desert also known as the Great Thar Desert or Great Indian Desert has an area of 200,000 square km and is spread over Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Rann of Kutch in Gujarat in India and Sindh and part of Punjab province of Pakistan. The area coverage of Thar Desert in India is 170,000 km2 and that in Pakistan is 30,000 km2. It is the 17th largest of all deserts of the world and the 9th largest subtropical desert. The share of area of the Thar Desert in Indian subcontinent is about 85% of the total area of the Thar Desert. The Thar Desert accounts for about 5% of the geographical area of India. It extends up to Aravalli Hills in the north-east, in the west it touches the Arabian Sea coast and, in the north-west, it goes up to the alluvial plains of the Indus River. The Thar Desert extends between the Aravalli Range of hills in the north-east and stretches to Punjab and Haryana to the north, to the Great Rann of Kutch along the coast and to the alluvial plains of the Indus River in the west and north-west. Most of the desert area is covered by huge, shifting sand dunes that receive sediments from the alluvial plains and the coast. This chapter gives the salient features of major world deserts along with geography, demography, natural resources, major economic activities, NRM institutions and challenges of Thar Desert region in Rajasthan.KeywordsWorld desertsThar DesertSalient features
Near a zoo in Bikaner, India, 2 free-ranging Indian gazelles (Gazella bennettii) displayed nodular skin lesions. Molecular testing revealed lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) infection. Subsequent genome analyses revealed LSDV wild-type strain of Middle Eastern lineage. Evidence of natural LSDV infection in wild gazelles in this area indicates a broadening host range.
A population study of Indian Chinkara Gazella bennettii was conducted during September 2006 to July 2007 in Cholistan Game Reserve. The estimated population density was 0.16 Chinkara/km2. The observed group size varied from 1 to 16 heads. The observed male to female sex ratio during September/October, February/March
and July was 1: 1.15, 1: 2.31, 1: 2.33 respectively.
KeywordsIndian Chinkara-
Gazella bennettii
-Population-Status-group size-sex ratio
