Local name: Hiran (Urdu)
Description and Biology:
Size:Shoulder Height: 65cm. .
Weight: 23kg.
Description: The Chinkara, whilst resembeling closely the Goitred Gazelle in external appearance and colouring, is on average a slightly smaller animal. The principal differences related only to the absence of any enlargement or swelling in the larynx, differences in the pelage, and the development of the horns. In summer coat, the Indian Gazelle is of warm biscuit, or reddish-buff colour, with the fur smooth and highly glossy. Even in winter coat the white belly and throat fur is smooth and short in contrast to that of the Goitred Gazelle. The tail is medium long and covered with a dorsal crest of black hairs. There are indistinct horizontal and pyreal stripes bordering the flanks and caudal areas in summer coat. The sides of the face are also patterned with broad dark chestnut stripes from the corner of the eye to the muzzle bordered above and below by white stripes. The average horn length of males is 25.5-30.5 cm (10-12 in) measured over the curve, with record horns reaching just over 39cm (15.5in).
Reproduction: Weaning: At about two months. Sexual Maturity: At two years of age. Life span: Unknown. Gestation Period: About five to five and a half months. Young per Birth: Generally 1, but twins have been reported quite frequently. In Pakistan, the rut appears it occur in two seasons, one lasting from the end of monsoon up to early October and again in the late Spring from March to the end of April. The births occure mainly in April.
Social Behavior: In its wide roaming habits, tendency tom keep to small groups of two to three individuals and its general alertness, the Chinkara is very similar to the Goitered Gazelle. The Chinkara is almost wholly nocturnal in foraging activity, though they will emerge to start feeding before sunset.
Diet: Chinkara’s are adapted to browsing and they will browse on various bushes and green twigs. They also take leaves of different plants and can go without water for days (all above information from “The Mammals of Pakistan” by T.J Roberts) .
Habitat and Distribution:
A very adaptable animal , it seems to be able to exist in extensive sand-dune areas down to sea level as well as in stony plateaus and low hilly regions up to 1,500m elevation. The Chinkara is severly reduced in numbers, perhaps to the point of extinction, in the desert regions of all along the eastern border of Pakistan. It is not however , in danger of extinction in the country as a whole, because it is so widespread and also lives in rocky escarpment areas. The Chinkara is now rare in the Thal desert. They survive in good numbers in Sibi plains, Mekran, Turbat and Lasbela in Baluchistan. They are also found in Kirthar hills and also in Margalla hills, but numbers in Margalla hills are believed to be very small. Isolated populations are also found in Salt Range, Kala Chitta hills and Cholistan in Punjab and Thar desert in Sind. A helicopter survey conducted in November 2000 by the staff of the Sindh Wildlife Department, Zoological Survey Department and the University of Melbourne yielded estimates of the total populations of the Chinkara at 1060 ± 580 in Kirthar National Park. Chinkara’s are ruthlesly hunted by local people and hunters and this has resulted in the reduction of once plentiful population in Pakistan (all above information from “The Mammals of Pakistan” by T.J Roberts).