Goa (antelope)
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| Goa (Tibetan Gazelle) | ||||||||||||||||
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| Procapra picticaudata Hodgson, 1846 |
The Goa (Procapra picticaudata), also known as the Tibetan Gazelle, is a species of antelope that inhabits the Tibetan plateau. A typical goa stands about two feet (60cm) tall at the shoulder and weighs about 15kg. Males have long, tapering, ridged horns, reaching lengths of up to 14 inches (35cm). Females have no horns; neither have distinct facial markings. They are gray in colour, with a white underbelly. Mating season is in December, with young born the following May.
In Ladakh they live at high altitudes (4,750-5,050 m. or 15,580-16,570 ft) but prefer relatively flat areas with an affinity for warmer south-facing slopes. They co-exist with domestic yaks and kiang, but are competitive with domestic goats and sheep and avoid herders and their dogs.[1]
Goa populations in both Ladakh and Tibet seem to be declining precipitously and are threatened with extinction, at least in some regions.[1][2][3][4]The goa exist in a few zoos in China.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ a b Bhatnagar, Yash Veer; C.M. Seth, J. Takpa, Saleem Ul-Haq, Tsewang Namgail, Sumanta Bagchi and Charudutt Mishra (2007). "A Strategy for Conservation of the Tibetan Gazelle Procapra picticaudata in Ladakh." 5 (2): 262-276.
- ^ Rizvi, Janet. Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia, p. 49. 1983. Oxford University Press. Reprint: Oxford University Press, New Delhi (1996). ISBN 019-564546-4.
- ^ "The Tibetan Gazelle of Hanle : Status and Conservation (Abstract)." Dr. Yash Veer Bhatnagar, Senior Lecturer & Richen Wangchuk, Snow Leopard Conservancy. [1]
- ^ Namgail, Tsewang; Sumanta Bagchi, Charudutt Mishra and Yash Veer Bhatnagar (2008). "Distributional correlates of the Tibetan gazelle Procapra picticaudata in Ladakh, northern India: towards a recovery programme". Oryx 42 (1): 107-112.
[edit] References
- Mallon (2003). Procapra picticaudata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 29 November 2007. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of "near threatened" status.
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