Circadian Variation in Activities of Blackbuck Under Captivity in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Blackbucks (Antilope cervicapra) are extinct in the wild in Pakistan and are maintained in captivity at diverse places. The present study reports the behavior of a herd of blackbucks (40 individuals in 2–4 random groups) maintained in three-acre enclosure at the Wildlife Complex, Pirowal, District Khanewal, South Punjab, Pakistan. The time spent in locomotion, resting, sleeping, sitting, fighting, aggression, feeding, and rumination was recorded by the naked eye and camera for thirty minutes on alternate hours for three consecutive days in different seasons (1080 min in each season) throughout the year. In a total observation period of 90 h, blackbuck males, females, and fawns were found to spend 22.8%, 27.5%, and 19.9% of their time walking, respectively. Walking was more extensive during the spring and monsoon. Running was more common in males, especially in dominant males, and during the post-monsoon period. Sitting was more frequent in the summer and less in the spring and monsoon. Salt licking was also observed in adults but rarely in fawns. Fighting was more common in mature males. Adults spent more time feeding compared to fawns. Rumination was related to sitting time and was more frequent in adults compared to fawns. The blackbucks largely retained their wild behavior in captivity. In an enclosure with little seasonal variation, flock size remained constant.The behavioral activities and time budgeting in different seasons and at different times of the day differed modestly between the fawn and the adults. Besides, there were sexual character differences.