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Wild Animal Park

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96-542: Wild Animal Park may refer to: San Diego Zoo Safari Park , formerly known as the San Diego Wild Animal Park, near Escondido, California Whipsnade Wild Animal Park , in Bedfordshire, England South Lakes Safari Zoo (Formerly South Lakes Wild Animal Park), near Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England See also [ edit ] Zoo Topics referred to by

192-411: A Matschie's tree-kangaroo exhibit and an animal ambassador area where guests can meet the safari park's Australian animal ambassadors. Walkabout Australia also has a restaurant and a devil's marbles area. It is also home to the only two platypuses outside of Australia, Birrarung and Eve. The exhibit opened in 2018. The park includes the world's largest veterinary hospital. Adjacent to the hospital

288-465: A captive breeding program. The last 22 condors were taken into captivity in 1987 To breed the condors quickly, the Safari Park would remove the eggs from the nests to induce the females to lay a second egg. The removed egg hatches in an incubator and is raised with a condor handpuppet to prevent human imprinting, while the second egg is raised by its parents. The first condor born through this process

384-645: A lagoon with East African crowned cranes , pink-backed pelicans , Dalmatian pelicans , African sacred ibises and great white pelicans . The North Africa exhibit represents the Sahel and Sahara Desert that houses scimitar-horned oryx , Barbary stag , red-fronted gazelle , Barbary sheep , Dromedary camels , and Ankole-Watusi cattle . The Southern Africa field exhibits Grévy's zebras . The South Africa field exhibit holds Masai giraffes , common eland , sable antelope , gemsbok , springbok , blue wildebeest and ostrich . The Central Africa region features

480-696: A 1980 study in Bardiya National Park , the average herd size was of three individuals; In a 1995 study in the Gir National Park , herd membership varied with season. However, three distinct groupings are formed: one or two females with young calves, three to six adult and yearling females with calves, and male groups with two to 18 members. Typically tame, the nilgai may appear timid and cautious if harassed or alarmed; instead of seeking cover like duikers it would flee up to 300 m (980 ft)-or even 700 m (2,300 ft) on galloping-away from

576-523: A backdrop of the open-range East Africa exhibit. A central lagoon has lesser and greater flamingos , waterfowl , an island with colobus monkeys , and an interpretive research camp on a separate island. The park formerly operated a monorail line, the Wgasa Bush Line, which ran clockwise through the Wild Animal Park. The name of the monorail was originally chosen by chief designer Chuck Faust as

672-442: A large array of wild and endangered animals from every continent except Antarctica. It also includes a botanical garden with over one million plants. In 2022, the park attracted over 1.6 million visitors. Its parent organization, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance , is a private nonprofit conservation organization, and has one of the largest zoological membership associations in the world. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance also operates

768-430: A naturalistic, spacious environment rather than in cages. In 1964, the park was assessed financially and then moved onto the next phase, with this resulting in three alternative developments—a conservation farm, a game preserve, or a ‘natural environment’ zoo. The natural environment zoo development was chosen over the conservation farm and game preserve even though it was the most expensive option. The estimated initial cost

864-531: A nilgai cow ... The gods saw him and said: "Prajapati is doing a deed that is not done". Nilgai are extensively featured in paintings, dagger hilts and texts from the Mughal era (16th to 19th centuries); their representation, however, is less frequent than that of horses and camels. On being disturbed while hunting nilgai, the Mughal emperor Jahangir recorded his ire: Suddenly a groom and two bearers appeared, and

960-540: A pest in several north Indian states, as they ravage crop fields and cause considerable damage. In Bihar , authorities have classified the nilgai as vermin . The vernacular name "nilgai" / ˈ n ɪ l ˌ ɡ aɪ / comes from the fusion of the Hindi words nil ("blue") and gai ("cow"). The word was first recorded in use in 1882. Alternative origins could be from the Persian gaw ("cow"). The nilgai has been referred to by

1056-541: A profane inside joke, with "WGASA" being an acronym for "who gives a shit anyway". Zoo officials later came up with a backronym for the name, saying that it stood for "World’s Greatest Animal Show Anywhere". The Monorail line has been retired, partially due to high maintenance costs, and in March 2007 the Journey into Africa attraction, now renamed Africa Tram, opened. The Africa Tram tour runs counterclockwise and brings visitors to

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1152-406: A respiratory problem. She and Joanne were treated for 11 days. In 2019 medical experts collaborated to do cataract surgery on a three-year-old gorilla, Leslie. This was the park's first cataract surgery on a gorilla. In January 2021, two gorillas were reported to be the first known cases of COVID-19 transmission from humans to apes during the coronavirus pandemic . The gorillas recovered from

1248-518: A second room representing the canopy. On display are long-tailed paradise whydah , purple grenadier , red-crested turaco , African pygmy goose , beautiful sunbird and other birds. Hidden Jungle is the setting of the annual Butterfly Jungle event. Opened in October 2004, Lion Camp houses the park's six African lions , Izu, Mina, Oshana and Etosha in a 1-acre (0.40 ha) exhibit. The park's two other lions, Ernest and Miss Ellen, were moved to

1344-401: A variety of names: neelghae, nilgau, nilgo, nylghau, and nylghai, constructions referring to other "blue" animals. They are also known as white-footed antelope. During Mughal emperor Aurangzeb 's reign (1658–1707) of India, the nilgai was known by the name nilghor ("nil" for "blue" and "ghor" for "horse"). The scientific name of the nilgai is Boselaphus tragocamelus. The nilgai is

1440-432: A white patch on the throat, a short crest of hair along the neck terminating in a tuft, and white facial spots. A column of pendant coarse hair hangs from the dewlap ridge below the white patch. Sexual dimorphism is prominent – while females and juveniles are orange to tawny, adult males have a bluish-grey coat . Only males possess horns , 15–24 cm (5.9–9.4 in) long. The nilgai is diurnal (active mainly during

1536-400: A wooded waterhole with an island for saddle-billed storks , spur-winged geese , Lappet-faced vultures , Goliath herons , Egyptian geese , and Rüppell's vultures . On the shores of the lake are bongo antelope , red river hog , greater kudu , Ugandan kob , roan antelope , and other forest animals. Species of note in the open enclosures include two subspecies of giraffe , rhinos (it

1632-439: A year after parturition. Males in the same location were found to have active testes by the age of three years, that matured considerably by the next year. Males become sexually active at four or five years. Mating may occur throughout the year, with peaks of three to four months. The time of the year when these peaks occur varies geographically. In Texas, a peak is apparent from December to March. In Bharatpur National Park ,

1728-411: Is diurnal (active mainly during the day). A 1991 study investigated the daily routine of the antelope and found feeding peaks at dawn, in the morning, in the afternoon and during the evening. Females and juveniles do not interact appreciably with males, except during the mating season. Groups are generally small, with ten or fewer individuals, though groups of 20 to 70 individuals can occur at times. In

1824-560: Is Malay for “forest. Originally a center for cultural events in the park, today Nairobi Village houses numerous exhibits for smaller animals. Among these are meerkats , Rodrigues fruit bats , an African aviary , ring-tailed lemurs , Chilean flamingos , pudú , fennec foxes Kirk's dik-diks , sand cats , yellow-backed duikers , red river hogs , West African crowned cranes , North Sulawesi babirusa , South American coatis , lesser hedgehog tenrecs , black-footed cats , pancake tortoises and white-fronted bee-eaters . A large lagoon

1920-427: Is Siscouc, a male condor, who was the patriarch of the flock (last chick, Kitwon). Now that title goes to Siwon. Captive-bred condors were reintroduced into the wild beginning in 1992, and today their population 500, with 200 in the wild as of November 2020. On December 14, 2014, Angalifu , a 44-year-old male northern white rhinoceros , died of old age at the park. This left only five northern white rhinos left in

2016-549: Is a glass viewing window for visitors. After raising $ 19.6 million for the new exhibit ground was broken on December 12, 2012. The new exhibit is named the Tull Family Tiger Trail after movie producer Thomas Tull and his wife. Tiger Trail opened May 24, 2014. In August 2017, a Bengal tiger cub named Moka was rescued by border police from a car on the Mexican border and brought to the zoo. The exhibits' matriarch, Delta,

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2112-640: Is abundant across northern India. It prefers areas with short bushes and scattered trees in scrub forests and grassy plains. They are common in agricultural lands, but hardly occur in dense woods. In southern Texas, it roams in the prairies, scrub forests and oak forests. It is a generalist animal—it can adapt to a variety of habitats. Though sedentary and less dependent on water, nilgai may desert their territories if all water sources in and around it dry up. Territories in Texas are 0.6 to 8.1 square kilometres (0.23 to 3.13 sq mi) large. The Indian population

2208-548: Is born. As typical of several bovid species, nilgai calves stay hidden for the first few weeks of their lives. The lifespan of the nilgai is around ten years. The nilgai prefers areas with short bushes and scattered trees in scrub forests and grassy plains. It is commonly found on agricultural land and rarely in dense forests. Major populations occur in the Indian and Nepal Terai . It was thought to be extinct in Bangladesh . The nilgai

2304-745: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages San Diego Zoo Safari Park Mailing address: The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a zoo and safari park in San Diego, California , located in San Pasqual Valley . Opened in 1972, the park operates as a sister location to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park ; it features a more specific focus on animals from arid environments. The park houses over 3,000 animals representing more than 300 species. It hosts

2400-405: Is elaborate-the antelope stands with his legs about a metre apart, with the rump lowered and the tail held almost vertical; it stays in the same posture for at least ten seconds after relieving itself. The process is not as elaborate in the females as it is in the males. In India, the nilgai shares its habitat with the four-horned antelope, chinkara , chital and blackbuck ; its association with

2496-402: Is home to numerous species of waterfowl , both foreign and native. Lorikeet Landing and Hidden Jungle display feedable lories and lorikeets , and African birds, respectively. There is a nursery where visitors can watch baby animals being hand-reared as well as a nearby petting corral . Finally, a habitat houses a troop of western lowland gorillas . In 2014, Imami gave birth to Joanne despite

2592-596: Is not as acute. The nilgai is endemic to the Indian subcontinent : major populations occur in India , Nepal and Pakistan . The population in Bangladesh was thought to be extinct, but some individuals from Indian and Nepalese populations cross the border into the northwest of the country. Significant numbers occur in the Terai lowlands in the foothills of the Himalayas ; the antelope

2688-412: Is not well-insulated with fat during winter, and consequently severe cold might be fatal for the nilgai. Males are horned, and the occasional female. The horns are 15–24 cm (5.9–9.4 in) long but generally shorter than 30 cm (12 in). Smooth and straight, these may point backward or forward. The horns of the nilgai lack the ringed structure typical of those of other bovids. The nilgai

2784-502: Is noted for its breeding program; it was the key force in the recovery effort for the birds. It is one of the only places in the world where the public can see the species in captivity) Other species displayed include Aplomado falcons , San Clemente loggerhead shrikes , thick-billed parrots , ocelots , bald eagles , Harris's hawks , squirrels , burrowing owls , prairie dogs , black footed ferrets , magpies , and desert tortoises . Formerly known as Heart of Africa, these are two of

2880-451: Is prominent; the males are larger than females and differ in colouration. The maximum recorded length of the skull is 376 mm (14.8 in). The dental formula is 0.0.3.3 3.1.3.3 . The milk teeth are totally lost and the permanent dentition completed by three years of age. The permanent teeth get degraded with age, showing prominent signs of wear at six years of age. The nilgai has sharp ears and eyes, though its sense of smell

2976-502: Is significantly lower as they merely break off young shoots. A 1990 study suggested culling, building enclosures for the antelopes and fencing off agricultural areas as remedies. The governments of Bihar, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand have urged the Government of India to declare the nilgai as vermin ; the proposal has been implemented in Bihar, where nilgai can now be hunted to minimise

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3072-687: Is the Institute for Conservation Research, which houses the San Diego Zoo's and Safari Park's Frozen Zoo . The park is Southern California's quarantine center for zoo animals imported into the United States through San Diego. The safari park was a major factor in the recovery of the California condor. Beginning in 1980, it worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Los Angeles Zoo to start

3168-475: Is the largest antelope in Asia. It stands 1–1.5 m (3 ft 3 in – 4 ft 11 in) at the shoulder; the head-and-body length is typically between 1.7–2.1 m (5 ft 7 in – 6 ft 11 in). Males weigh 109–288 kg (240–635 lb); the maximum weight recorded is 308 kg (679 lb). Females are lighter, weighing 100–213 kg (220–470 lb). Sexual dimorphism

3264-625: Is typically bluish grey. The ventral parts, the insides of the thighs and the tail are all white. A white stripe extends from the underbelly and broadens as it approaches the rump , forming a patch lined with dark hair. Almost white, though not albino , individuals have been observed in the Sariska National Park . while individuals with white patches have been recorded at zoos. The hairs, typically 23–28 cm (9.1–11.0 in) long, are fragile and brittle. Males have thicker skin on their head and neck that protect them in fights. The coat

3360-568: The Bishnois traditionally take care of wild animals like the nilgai. The nilgai was not widely hunted until the 20th century, when habitat degradation and poaching became rampant. The meat of nilgai is said to be lighter and milder flavoured than blackbuck meat. The populations of nilgai in India are so large that farmers in the states of Bihar , Chhattisgarh , Haryana , Madhya Pradesh , Maharashtra , Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have pleaded to

3456-794: The Ellen Trout Zoo 's male southern white rhinoceros, Bwana, permanently moved into this zoo to officially join its large crash. The park's largest exhibits, covering over 300 acres (120 ha), are the open-range enclosures. Visitors view various plains habitats from Africa and Asia. Asian Savanna covers 60 acres (24 ha) and displays Indian rhinoceros , Bactrian camels , banteng , gaur , urial , argali , dholes , and several species of Asian deer and antelope such as blackbuck , barasingha , North China sika deer , axis deer , Eld's deer , Indochinese sika deer Père David's deer , nilgai , white-lipped deer , sambar deer , and Bactrian deer . A number of smaller enclosures visible only from

3552-633: The Kurnool caves in southern India. Evidence suggests that they were hunted by humans during the Mesolithic period (5,000 to 8,000 years ago). A sturdy thin-legged antelope, the nilgai is characterised by a sloping back, a deep neck with a white patch on the throat, a short mane of hair behind and along the back ending behind the shoulder, and around two white spots each on its face, ears, cheeks, lips and chin. The ears, tipped with black, are 15–18 cm (5.9–7.1 in) long. A column of coarse hair, known as

3648-655: The Neolithic period (6500–1400 BCE) and during the Indus Valley civilisation (3300–1700 BCE) in the Indian subcontinent. There is a reference to the nilgai in the Aitareya Brahmana (a Hindu religious text dated 500–1000 BCE), where one of the Prajapatis (progenitor god) is said to have assumed the form of a nilgai: Prajapati desired his own daughter ... Having become a nilgai bull he approached her who had become

3744-781: The Pench Tiger Reserve , or as high as 6.6 to 11.36 individuals per km in Ranthambhore National Park, and seven individuals per km in Keoladeo National Park . Seasonal variations were noted in Bardiya National Park in a 1980 study; the density 3.2 individuals per km during the dry season and 5 per km in April, the start of the dry season. In southern Texas, densities were found to be nearly 3–5 individuals per km in 1976. Historic notes mention nilgai in southern India, but these may have been feral: I believe that

3840-594: The Shiwalik Hills in India and Pakistan , as do several Tragoportax species. A 2005 study showed the migration of Miotragoceros to eastern Asia around eight million years ago. Alan W. Gentry of the Natural History Museum reported the presence of another boselaphine, Mesembriportax , from Langebaanweg ( South Africa ). Remains of the nilgai dating back to the Pleistocene have been discovered from

3936-400: The extinct Pelorovis . Tragelaphini consists of two genera: Taurotragus (eland) and Tragelaphus . A closer relationship between Boselaphini and Tragelaphini was predicted, and seconded by a similar study in 1999. Bovini Tragelaphini Boselaphini Though the tribe Boselaphini has no African representation today, fossil evidence supports its presence in the continent in

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4032-530: The gaur and the water buffalo is less common. In Ranthambore National Park , the nilgai and the chinkara collectively prefer the area rich in Acacia and Butea species, while the sambar deer and the chital preferred the forests of Anogeissus and Grewia species. In India, the Bengal tiger and Asiatic lion prey on the nilgai but they are not significant predators of this antelope. Leopards also prey on

4128-528: The red hartebeest ) and Bosephalus (first used by Thomas Horsfield in 1851, when he mistook a nilgai specimen for a hartebeest in a museum catalogue of the East India Company ). A 1992 phylogenetic study of mitochondrial DNA sequences showed a strong possibility of a clade consisting of Boselaphini, Bovini , and Tragelaphini . Bovini consists of the genera Bubalus , Bos , Pseudoryx ( saola ), Syncerus ( African Buffalo ), Bison and

4224-632: The tribe Boselaphini , the four-horned antelope (the sole member of Tetracerus ). The generic name Boselaphus comes from the combination of the Latin bos ("cow" or "ox") and the Greek elaphos ("deer"). The specific name tragocamelus comes from the join of the two Greek words tragos ("he-goat") and kamelos ("camel"). The binomial combination was first used by English zoologist Philip Sclater in 1883. Boselaphus has often been misspelled as Buselaphus (first used by Ludwig Reichenbach in 1845 for

4320-405: The "pendant" and around 13 cm (5.1 in) long in males, can be observed along the dewlap ridge below the white throat patch. The tufted tail, up to 54 cm (21 in), has a few white spots and is tipped with black. The forelegs are generally longer, and the legs are often marked with white "socks". While females and juveniles are orange to tawny, males are much darker – their coat

4416-628: The Bharatpur National Park, and from April to August in southern Texas. Calves are precocial; they are able to stand within 40 minutes of birth, and forage by the fourth week. Pregnant females isolate themselves before giving birth. As typical of several bovid species, nilgai calves are kept in hiding for the first few weeks of their lives. This period of concealment can last as long as a month in Texas. Calves, mainly males, bicker playfully by neck-fighting. Young males would leave their mothers at ten months to join bachelor groups. The lifespan of

4512-529: The Coimbatore and Salem collectorates are almost the only places in Southern India, in which nil-gai are to be found. It is difficult to account for the animals being thus so widely divided from their usual haunts unless as has been generally supposed, these Southern specimens are the progeny of a semi-domesticated herd, which, at some by-gone period, had escaped from the preserve of a native potentate. The nilgai

4608-577: The Government of Haryana to rename it as roze in a bid to make their culling acceptable. A 1994 study drew attention to the ecological value provided by the nilgai in ravines lining the Yamuna River . In summer, the faeces of the antelope contained nearly 1.6 percent nitrogen, that could enhance the quality of the soil up to a depth of 30 cm (12 in). Seeds in the droppings could easily germinate and assist in afforestation. In September 2019,

4704-574: The San Diego Wildlife Park; ultimately, the name chosen was the San Diego Wild Animal Park . The scheduled opening day of the park was set for April 1, 1972; however, the gates did not open until May 10, 1972. The general layout of the park, designed by Charles Faust, included a large lagoon with a jungle plaza, an African fishing village, an aviary at the entrance of the park and approximately 50,000 plants were to be included in

4800-473: The San Diego Zoo board of trustees voted to change the name of the park from the San Diego Wild Animal Park to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to clarify what it offers, since the difference between the zoo proper and the "animal park" was unclear to some visitors. The name "safari" is supposed to emphasize "the park's spacious enclosures of free-ranging animals" (as opposed to "the closer quarters of

4896-523: The San Diego Zoo. Connie died from cancer in July 2012, just five months after the move. Shaba was slowly introduced into the herd in February 2013. On July 12, 2012, Ndulagave birth to Umzula. A male calf named Zuli was the largest elephant born at the park. The California wildfire season in 2007, which officially started on October 21 that year, burned 600 acres (2.4 km ) of native chaparral lands within

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4992-413: The San Diego Zoo. The San Diego Zoological Society became interested in developing a larger facility in 1964. The initial concept of the park was as a supplementary breeding facility for the San Diego Zoo, which would allow ample space for large animals and herding behaviors of ungulates . The development proposed would differ significantly from that of a typical zoo in that animals would be exhibited in

5088-497: The San Diego Zoo. One side of the enclosure is dominated by an artificial rock kopje which has a 40-foot-long (12 m) glass viewing window and heated rocks. The path continues along an acacia -studded ravine and leads to a replica observation tent. This has a smaller viewing window as well as a Land Rover for the lions to rest on. Condor Ridge displays endangered North American desert wildlife. The featured species are California condors and desert bighorn sheep . The park

5184-779: The Save Wild Elephants Coalition reported that there were three other sanctuaries in Africa that had offered to take the elephants. Five of these elephants are now at the park, and cumulatively, they have produced thirteen babies, as of 2013. In March 2012, five elephants were moved to the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona , to form a new herd. A bull elephant, two cows, and two baby bulls were moved and, in return, two female elephants that had been together for years. Connie, an Asian elephant , and Shaba, an African elephant, were sent to

5280-464: The State government, the then environment minister Prakash Javadekar and the judiciary is so illogical that it mocks all the solutions available to stop the nilgais from destroying the farms. We live in the 21st century and culling is only the very last option we have. The farmers can either opt for fencing around the farmlands or if it's unaffordable, then the government can give ordinances to relocate them to

5376-515: The breeding season is from October to February, peaking in November and December. Sariska reserve witnesses a similar peak in December and January. In the mating season, rutting males move about in search of females in oestrus . Males become aggressive and fight among themselves for dominance . These fights are characterised by displays of the enlarged chest, the throat patch and the beard while holding

5472-529: The capture of 11 wild African elephants from the Hlane Royal National Park in Swaziland (since 2018 renamed to Eswatini ). The zoos said the animals were scheduled to be killed due to overpopulation. However, In Defense of Animals disputes this, claiming that new fencing costing many times less than the capture and transport would have ended the need to remove any elephants from Swaziland, and that

5568-459: The damages incurred by locals. The Uttar Pradesh government has given farmers and firearm licence holders the right to cull the animals. However, animal rights activists in various parts of India were unhappy with the decision. Shivanshu K. Srivastava, a columnist and social activist , wrote that "The culling of nilgais (blue bulls) in Bihar in July 2016 was so deplorable that it doesn't need any justification. The excuse given for this slew by

5664-573: The danger. Though generally quiet, nilgai have been reported to make short guttural grunts when alarmed, and females to make clicking noises when nursing young. Alarmed individuals, mainly juveniles below five months, give out a coughing roar (whose pitch is highest in case of the juveniles) that lasts half a second, but can be heard by herds less than 500 m (1,600 ft) away and responded to similarly. Fights take place in both sexes and involve pushing their necks against each other or ramming into one another using horns. Fights can be gory; despite

5760-493: The day). The animals band together in three distinct kinds of groups: one or two females with young calves, three to six adult and yearling females with calves, and all-male groups with two to 18 members. Typically tame, the nilgai may appear timid and cautious if harassed or alarmed; it flees up to 300 m (980 ft), or even 700 m (2,300 ft), galloping away from the source of danger. Herbivores, nilgai prefer grasses and herbs, though they commonly eat woody plants in

5856-414: The dry tropical forests of India. Females become sexually mature by two years, while males do not become sexually active until four or five years old. The time of the year when mating takes place varies geographically, but a peak breeding season lasting three to four months can be observed at most places. Gestation lasts eight to nine months, following which a single calf (sometimes twins or even triplets)

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5952-457: The dung of nilgai most of the year; Acacia nilotica and Prosopis juliflora seeds were discovered in the dry season and those of Echinochloa crusgalli during the monsoon. Observations of females in southern Texas revealed that ovaries are developed by two years of age and the first birth takes place typically a year later, though in a few cases females as young as one-and-a-half years may mate successfully. Females can breed again around

6048-463: The female holds her tail to a side and the male gives out a flehmen response . Finally, the male pushes his chest against her rump, and mounts her. Gestation lasts eight to nine months, following which a single calf or twins (even triplets at times) are born. In a 2004 study in the Sariska reserve, twins accounted for as high as 80 percent of the total calf population. Births peak from June to October in

6144-612: The feral population in Texas was nearly 37,000. Wild populations also exist in the US states of Alabama , Florida and Mississippi and the Mexican state of Tamaulipas , where they have escaped from private exotic ranches. The population around the Texas-Mexico border is estimated to be around 30,000 (as of 2011). In India, the nilgai is protected under Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 . Major protected areas for

6240-495: The field exhibits to see wildlife from different parts of Africa. In addition, another route is planned to bring visitors through the Asian field exhibits and into eight new ones that will house a variety of African animals from rock hyrax to Hartmann's mountain zebras . The tour uses a wheeled tram that runs on biofuel instead of a monorail. As well as the tram, the park has also added a tethered balloon ride that allows visitors to see

6336-485: The forests." The state governments have attempted other initiatives to curb the nilgai: in November 2015, the Government of Rajasthan came up with a proposal to allow shooting nilgai with non-lethal darts to inhibit fertilisation in their bodies, so as to regulate their increasing populations. As the name "nilgai" appeals to the religious sentiments of Hindus, the Government of Madhya Pradesh has sought to officially rename it rojad (Hindi for "forest antelope") and

6432-460: The government to cull them. Nilgai herds raid and trample crop fields across these states, often causing food shortages. Farmers use live electric wires to guard their farms, which kills other animals as well. Farmers in Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh) went on a hunger strike in 2015 demanding compensation for the damage caused by nilgai. Although blackbuck cause a similar problem, the damage caused by them

6528-415: The head upright; and threatening the opponent by running with the horns pointed toward him and circling him. The victorious bull would protect the vicinity of the targeted female from other males. The courtship typically lasts for 45 minutes. The male, stiff and composed, approaches the receptive female, who keeps her head low to the ground and may slowly walk forward. The male licks her genitalia, upon which

6624-639: The landscaping. Although the park was scheduled to open in three years from the time of the groundbreaking, the total development of the park was estimated to take ten years. The first two species to arrive at the park were the nilgai (an antelope from India and Nepal) and the Grant's zebra , native to East Africa. Subsequent species to arrive at the park included the gemsbok , a type of oryx from Southern Africa and Namibia, in addition to Zambian sable antelope , greater kudu , southern and northern white rhinoceros subspecies (which were both in-danger of extinction),

6720-541: The late Miocene have been discovered not only in Asia and southern Europe but also in the Ngorora Formation ( Kenya ) and are thought to belong to the Boselaphini. Other Miocene fossils of boselaphines discovered are of Miotragocerus , Tragocerus , and Tragoportax ; fossils of Miotragoceros are not apparent in Africa (only M. cyrenaicus has been reported from the continent), but have significant presence in

6816-493: The least since the origins of the family. The extant and extinct boselaphine forms show similar development of the horn cores (the central bony part of the horn). Though the extant nilgai females lack horns, historic relatives of the antelope had horned females. Fossil relatives were once placed in the subfamily Cephalophinae which now contains only the African duikers . Fossils of Protragoceros and Sivoreas dating back to

6912-720: The nilgai across India include: Gir National Park (Gujarat); Bandhavgarh National Park, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary , Kanha National Park , Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve , Panna Tiger Reserve , Pench Tiger Reserve , Sanjay National Park , Satpura National Park (Madhya Pradesh); Tadoba Andhari Reserve ( Maharashtra ); Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary , Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon, Ranthambore National Park and Sariska Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan). Remains of nilgai have been excavated at Pandu Rajar Dhibi in West Bengal , suggesting that they were domesticated or hunted in eastern India in

7008-507: The nilgai escaped. In a great rage, I ordered them to kill the groom on the spot and hamstring the bearers and mount them on asses and parade them through the camp. For centuries Indian villagers have associated the nilgai with the cow , a sacred animal revered by Hindus , and the name ("gai" means "cow" in Hindi) indicates the similarity they saw with the cow. The nilgai is rarely consumed by Hindus due to its religious significance. Tribes such as

7104-586: The nilgai is typically ten years in Texas. The nilgai is categorised as of Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural resources ( IUCN ). While it is common in India, the nilgai occurs sparsely in Nepal and Pakistan. The major reasons behind its decimation in these two countries are rampant hunting, deforestation and habitat degradation in the 20th century. As of 2008,

7200-1044: The nilgai's should be at least seven percent. The nilgai can survive for long periods without water and does not drink regularly even in summer. In Sariska Reserve, it prefers herbs and grasses; grasses become more important in the rainy season, while during winter and summer it feeds additionally on Butea monosperma flowers, foliage of Anogeissus pendula , Capparis sepiaria , Grewia flavescens and Zizyphus mauritiana ), pods of Acacia nilotica , A. catechu and A. leucophloea , and fruits of Zizyphus mauritiana . Preferred grass species include Cenchrus species, Cynodon dactylon , Desmostachya bipinnata , Scirpus tuberosus and Vetiveria zizanoides . Woody plants eaten include Acacia nilotica , A. senegal , A. leucophloea , Clerodendrum phlomidis , Crotalaria burhia , Indigofera oblongifolia , Morus alba and Zizyphus nummularia ; herbs favoured are Cocculus hirsutus , Euphorbia hirta and Sida rhombifolia . Seeds of Paspalum distichum occurred in

7296-400: The nilgai, though they prefer smaller prey. Dholes generally attack juveniles. Other predators includes the Indian wolf and striped hyena . The nilgai is a browser or mixed feeder, but primarily a grazer in Texas. It prefers grasses and herbs, but also feeds on woody plants in the dry tropical forests of India. Diets generally suffice in protein and fats. The protein content of

7392-414: The northern Indian subcontinent. It is the sole member of the genus Boselaphus , which was first described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1766. The nilgai stands 1–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) at the shoulder; males weigh 109–288 kg (240–635 lb), and the lighter females 100–213 kg (220–470 lb). A sturdy thin-legged antelope, the nilgai is characterised by a sloping back, a deep neck with

7488-528: The one-horned Indian rhinoceros , as well as ten South African cheetahs , brought to the park for breeding purposes. When the park first opened, there were many cultural shows and programs, with groups invited from Africa and Asia. There were also many animal encounters and entertainment options available for guests to view various animal ambassador species. In the summer of 2003, the San Diego Zoological Society and Lowry Park Zoo orchestrated

7584-423: The park and caused the park's temporarily closure. The park moved many of their endangered animals out of danger of the fire. The flames did not reach any of the main enclosures, and no animals were killed or burned by the fire, though the flames could be seen clearly from several of the exhibits. The incidental deaths of a clapper rail and kiang were attributed to indirect effects of the blaze. On June 30, 2010,

7680-623: The park's major exhibits. Visitors go down a trail which replicates habitats in Africa. The exhibit begins in African Woods with scrub animals - vultures , lesser kudu , and giant eland . It then progresses to the forest ( okapi , red-flanked duikers , gerenuk , steenbok , demoiselle cranes , kori bustard , blue cranes , and wattled cranes ). The path then leads to African Outpost, which features plains animals - bontebok , warthogs , bat-eared foxes , secretary birds , yellow-billed storks , ground hornbills , cheetahs , and nyala - against

7776-582: The plains exhibits from 400 feet (120 m) (~21 giraffes) in the air. The balloon ride is not included in the entrance fee. The park also has extensive botanical gardens , many of which are their own attractions separate from the animal exhibits. Walkabout Australia is the park's only Australia exhibit. It is 3.6 acres and guests can go inside an exhibit which features western grey kangaroos , red-necked wallabies , Australian brushturkeys , radjah shelducks , freckled ducks and magpie geese . Walkabout Australia also has two southern cassowary exhibits,

7872-432: The prehistoric times, as early as the late Miocene . The two living antelope species of this tribe have been found to have a closer relationship with the earliest bovids (like Eotragus species) than do the other bovids. This tribe originated at least 8.9 million years ago, in much the same area where the four-horned antelope lives today, and may represent the most "primitive" of all living bovids, having changed

7968-508: The protective skin deep, lacerated wounds and even deaths might occur. Display behaviour focuses on the throat patch and the beard, and threatening opponents by pointing the horns toward them. A young male was observed making a submissive display in the Sariska Reserve by kneeling before an adult male, who stood erect. The nilgai mark their territories by forming dung piles as much as 50 cm (20 in) in radius. The defecation process

8064-428: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Wild Animal Park . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wild_Animal_Park&oldid=604183782 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

8160-623: The sole member of the genus Boselaphus and placed in the family Bovidae . The species was described and given its binomial name by the German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas in 1766. He based his description on a 1745 account of a male nilgai by British physician James Parsons in the 43rd volume of Philosophical Transactions (now known as the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society ). The nilgai has one other relative in

8256-423: The tram are home to Somali wild ass , Arabian oryx , Rhim gazelle , markhor , Soemmerring's gazelle , and Przewalski's horses . African Plains represents many regions and habitats. East Africa displays African buffalo , southern white rhinoceros , Rothschild's giraffe , reticulated giraffe , fringe-eared oryx , waterbuck , Nile lechwe , red lechwe , impala , Grant's gazelle , Thomson's gazelle , and

8352-477: The virus. Located in Nairobi Village, this climate-controlled indoor exhibit opened in 1993 and displays tropical African birds and insects. The entrance to the building is a simulated earthen crevasse with displays for stick insects , spiders , scorpions , insects , millipedes , lizards , and snakes . The underground segment opens up to a room representing the rainforest understory , which leads to

8448-470: The world, including one female at the Safari Park. On November 22, 2015, the park's last northern white rhino, 41-year-old Nola, was euthanized due to bacterial infection and her health rapidly failing. In June 2019, two young male African elephants named Ingadze and Lutsandvo were sent to Alabama's Birmingham Zoo as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan. On 28 July 2019,

8544-466: The zoo announced the birth of Edward, a male Southern White Rhinoceros, the first rhino in North America born through artificial insemination, born to Victoria and Maoto. The second rhino born through artificial insemination, Future, a female southern White rhinoceros, was also born in the park. On August 12, 2018, the zoo announced the birth of Zuli, a male elephant born to Ndula, the largest calf born at

8640-598: The zoo"), encouraging visits to both locations. In July 2019, the park opened a new exhibit specifically for their rhinoceroses, the Nikhita Khan Rhino Centre (named after animal lover and lawyer Nikhita Khan), debuting as the home for six white rhinos. A few days after the center's opening, one of the rhinos (named Victoria) gave birth to Edward, a male calf, becoming the first rhinoceros in North America to be born via artificial insemination . In April 2024,

8736-404: The zoo, of 299 pounds. The record was broken six weeks later by Kaia, a female elephant born to Umngani, at 320 pounds. The Safari Park has received several awards for its breeding programs and conservation efforts. Nilgai The nilgai ( Boselaphus tragocamelus ) ( / ˈ n i l ˌ ɡ aɪ / , literally meaning "blue cow") is the largest antelope of Asia , and is ubiquitous across

8832-411: Was $ 1,755,430. The main purposes of this zoo were to be species conservation, breeding of animals for the San Diego Zoo (as well as trading between zoos) and providing areas where exotic animals arriving to the state of California could be quarantined and monitored. When it came to naming the park, five titles were considered: San Diego Animal Land, San Diego Safari Land, San Diego Wild Animal Safari, or

8928-725: Was estimated at one million in 2001. The nilgai were first introduced to Texas in the 1920s and the 1930s in a 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) large ranch near the Norias Division of the King Ranch , one of the largest ranches in the world. The feral population saw a spurt toward the latter part of the 1940s, and gradually spread out to adjoining ranches. Population densities show great geographical variation across India. Density can be as low as 0.23 to 0.34 individuals per km in Indravati National Park . and 0.4 individuals per km in

9024-578: Was euthanized on July 29, 2018, shortly after her birthday, due to old age. Her daughter, Joanna, succeeded her as the matriarch until June 30, 2021 when she was relocated to the Phoenix Zoo . On July 12, 2023, Diana gave birth to two Sumatran tigers named Hutan and Puteri. Puteri means "princess" in Malay, the official language of Malaysia — one of few Asian territories where the Sumatran tigers can be found. Hutan

9120-507: Was introduced to Texas in the 1920s to 1930s. As of 2008, the feral population in Texas is nearly 37,000 . The nilgai is categorised as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List . The nilgai has been associated with Indian culture since the Vedic period (1500–500 BCE). They were hunted in the Mughal era (16th to 19th centuries) and are depicted in numerous miniatures. Nilgai have been considered

9216-451: Was the last New World zoo to have northern white rhinoceros ), vultures , markhor , and many species of antelope , gazelle , and deer . The park houses the largest, most comprehensive collection of hoofed mammals ( ungulates ) in the world. However, the overall numbers of animals at the park have been greatly reduced. The Sumatran tigers , Denver and Rakan (male), Majel, Cathy, Debbie, and Diana, have three different exhibits, and there

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