Nilgai antelopes (Boselaphus tragocamelus) were introduced to the United States from India. In 1929 and 1930, 12 nilgais were introduced to the Norias Division of the King Ranch in South Texas. The population increased to more than 200 by mid-1950, and to 4 500 and 15 000 animals by 1983 and 2004, respectively. Currently, we estimate a population of over 38 000 and individual animals and herds of up to 11 cows have been observed around Kingsville, TX., far north from the initial release site. Nilgais can be viewed as a valuable species for hunting and meat, or as an invasive species that compete for food and space with native wildlife species and it may disperse diseases. In ranches with high cattle stocking rates and low forage availability, nilgai and white tailed deer diets overlapped; under those conditions they were competing for food. When grass availability is high nilgai may also compete with cattle too since they are intermediate feeders. The value of a nilgai hunt may range from $1 500 to $2 000 for a bull and $500 for a cow and the price of nilgai meat may go from $11 per lb for hamburger patties to $34 per lb for backstrap steakes. Based on this, ranchers may consider the nilgais an asset, even when they are well known to damage fences. Recently, cattle fever ticks (Rhipicephalus microplus and R. annulatus) were found in nilgais in the Mexico border. This is important because nilgais may move ticks long distances. Nilgai male home ranges ranged from 1 135 to 29 827 ha, and for females from 1 117 to 22 662 ha, therefore, potential for spreading ticks and risk for the cattle industry may be high, however, nilgai hunting is a viable recreational activity and brings additional income to ranches.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.