Nigai (Blue Bulls):

Nigai (Blue Bulls): 4,279 ‘nilgais’ culled in Bihar in 2024-25 (till Feb) due to widespread crop damage, as informed by State Environment Minister in the Assembly.

• About Nilgai (Blue Bulls): The term "Nilgai" (Hindustani) means “blue cow”, referring to the blue-grey color of adult bulls.
• Features: Long neck, short upright mane, bony narrow head, barrel-like chest, strong legs, high withers sloping to the croup.
• Largest Asian Antelope: Belongs to the family Bovidae.
• Habitat: Found in lightly wooded forests, wooded grasslands, scrub areas, agricultural lands, and near human settlements

• • Distribution: Found in Nepal, India, and Pakistan.
  • Conservation Status:

  o IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

  o Legal Protection: Listed under Schedule-III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

  • Legal provision: The Centre can declare an animal "vermin" under wildlife laws, permitting culling for crop protection.

  o Nilgai declared vermin in Bihar in Dec 2015.

  • Culling process: Certain state officials are empowered to grant culling permissions.

  o Officials prepare a strategy before launching culling operations.

  o Role of mukhiya (village head) is crucial in the entire process.