BREEDING OF NILGAI BOSELAPHUS TRAGOCAMELUS IN THE ZOO "ASKANIA NOVA"
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53904/1682-2374/2023-25/23Keywords:
Зоопарк "Асканія-Нова", нільгау, копитні, розведення, розмноженняAbstract
The results of research of breeding nilgai at the zoo "Askania Nova", are presented identifying three periods. Three periods of breeding are distinguished, and the characteris-tics of the imported antelopes are given. The dynamics of the number of animals, their elimination and births during the second and third periods of breeding (1948–2023) is presented. The conditions of keeping and reasons for the formation of nilgai groups are described. The peculiarities of repro-duction of this exotic antelope species in the south of Ukraine are given. The seasonality of breeding was observed in nilgai at the zoo "Askania Nova", although females are capable of giving birth throughout the year. The vast majority of nilgai calves were born from January to May, with a peak in February–April. The sex ratio (males : females) in newborns was 1.14 : 1. The survival rate of young animals at the zoo "Askania Nova" from birth to 6 months of age was 57.7%, and up to 12 months of age – 51.3%. Pregnancy lasted 243.8±0.57 days. The fertility of female nilgai at the zoo "Askania Nova" averaged 80.1%. Females gave birth to calves up to 13–14 years of age. Indicators of appearance and weight in adult animals were within the normal range for this species. Thus, the withers height of males and females was 131.0±1.0 and 122.3±1.1 cm, the oblique body length was 130.0±1.5 and 144.7±2.1 cm, the chest girth was 158.8±1.0 and 144.7±2.1 cm, the chest depth was 61,2±0,7 and 55,5±0,8 cm, respectively. The ethological features of nilgai in captivity are character-ised. The results of multispecies keeping of nilgai with representatives of the families Equidae, Cer-vidae, and Bovidae are described. During the breeding season, it is desirable to keep antelopes sepa-rately from the Equidae. It is acceptable to keep them together in large enclosures with dense vegeta-tion. Recommendations for improvement of nilgai keeping at the zoo "Askania Nova" are presented.
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