Nilgai
Boselaphus tragocamelus
🐂🟦
Chordata
Mammalia
Artiodactyla
Pecora
Bovidae
Boselaphus tragocamelus
The largest Asian antelope, the Nilgai is a hardy grazer native to the Indian subcontinent. Though not extinct, it has ancient roots and has been depicted in prehistoric rock art, showing early human interaction.
Description
Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) — The Nilgai, also known as the Blue Bull, is the largest antelope species in Asia. Found mostly in India, Nepal, and Pakistan, it thrives in grasslands, scrub forests, and lightly wooded regions. Males are larger and bluish-grey in color, while females are tawny. With long legs, a deep chest, and short horns on males, the Nilgai is built for endurance and open terrain. Its cautious behavior and speed make it a challenge for predators.
Despite modern conflicts with agriculture leading to culling in some regions, the species is not currently endangered. However, archaeological records show it has coexisted with humans for tens of thousands of years.
Quick Facts
Max Mass
Shoulder Height
Standing Height
Length
Diet
Trophic Level
288
1.5
2.25
2.6
kg
m
m
m
Mixed Feeder
Herbivores – Grazers
Hunt History
Although not a primary target of Upper Paleolithic hunting, evidence from Mesolithic and Neolithic sites in India suggests Nilgai were hunted for meat, hide, and potentially ritual use. Their size made them a substantial source of food, and their bones appear in domestic refuse pits and kill sites.
Archaeological Evidence of Early Human Predation:
Bagor (Rajasthan, India) – A Mesolithic site with numerous Nilgai bones, dated to ~5000 BCE, showing signs of butchery.
Mehrgarh (Balochistan, Pakistan) – Early Neolithic evidence (~7000 BCE) of Nilgai bones in domesticated settings, possibly wild game consumption.
Bhimbetka Rock Shelters (Madhya Pradesh, India) – Rock paintings possibly depicting Nilgai-like figures being hunted, dated to ~10,000 years ago.
Time & Range
Extinction Status
Extant
Extinction Date
Temporal Range
Region
0
BP
Late Pleistocene
Asia
Wiki Link
Fat Analysis
Fatness Profile:
Medium
Fat %
6
Est. Renderable Fat
17.3
kg
Targeted Organs
Hump/backfat, marrow, mesenteric fat
Adipose Depots
Hump/backfat, mesenteric, perirenal; marrow
Preferred Cuts
Hump/backfat & marrow
Hunt Difficulty (x/5)
4