Species MammalsNilgai

Nilgai

Boselaphus tragocamelus

RareMammal
Illustration of Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus)

The largest antelope in Asia, the Nilgai was brought from India to south Texas ranches in the 1920s and 30s and never left. Free-ranging herds now number in the tens of thousands across the brush country, where bulls carry a striking blue-grey coat that earns them the name blue bull. Big, wary, and fast, a Nilgai on the horizon is one of the strangest sights in American ranchland.

Habitat
Mesquite brushland and coastal grassland of south Texas; introduced
Diet
Grasses, leaves, and fruit
How common
Rare

Recent Nilgai sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Nilgai? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant or animal and get an instant ID, rarity, and field notes - building your personal nature collection as you go.

Get Huck - free

Get an alert when a Nilgai is spotted

Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.

Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.

Love mammals? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - free, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

More mammals

Nine-banded Armadillo
Nine-banded Armadillo
Dasypus novemcinctus
North American Beaver
North American Beaver
Castor canadensis
North American Beaver
North American Beaver
Castor canadensis
North American Least Shrew
North American Least Shrew
Cryptotis parva
North American Porcupine
North American Porcupine
Erethizon dorsatum
North American Porcupine
North American Porcupine
Erethizon dorsatum
North American River Otter
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
North American River Otter
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis