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Chinkara

Wild Cattle, Antelopes, Goats & Sheep

Photo: (c) harrier, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)

Gazella bennettii

Basic stats

Diet

Leaves and grasses

Habitat

Arid plains and hilly country, deserts, dry scrub and light or open forest

Range

India, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan

Size

About 65cm tall

Weight

About 23kg

The chinkara, or Indian gazelle, stands about 65 cm tall and weighs about 23 kg. It has a smooth, glossy reddish-buff summer coat, and in winter the white belly and throat contrast more. Dark chestnut stripes run from the corner of each eye to the muzzle, bordered by white stripes. The straight, prominently ringed horns can exceed 39 cm (Wikipedia, general species account).

It lives on arid plains and hilly country, in deserts, dry scrub and light or open forest, and occurs in more than 80 protected areas in India. It is most common in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, with sparser populations in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana. It is a swift, agile browser of leaves and grasses, mostly nocturnal and crepuscular, usually seen alone or in small groups. Males are territorial, and calves stay with their mother for up to 12 months (Wikipedia, general species account).

Quick answers

What does the Chinkara eat?
Leaves and grasses
What habitat does the Chinkara live in?
Arid plains and hilly country, deserts, dry scrub and light or open forest
Where is the Chinkara found?
India, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan
How big is the Chinkara?
About 65cm tall
How much does the Chinkara weigh?
About 23kg
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