Did You Know – Kudu

Lacey / December 8, 2011 / No comments

Here it is, another factsheet in our South African Wildlife collection. This week is the Kudu – join in the fun next week with the Monday Wildlife quiz on our Umkhumbi Lodge Facebook page.

 

Kudu - scientific name: Tragelaphus Strepsiceros - Description : Extremly shy of humans this South African even-toed ungulate lives in herds of up to 12. Large, with long legs they have 6 to 10 vertical white stripes. Unlike Nyala their horns are not white tipped. - Food : Browsers= Fruit, seed pods, melons - ocassionally will raid crops and is considered a nuisance in some areas. Eats young grass shoots to that have a high water content. This makes them independent of water. - Male and female : Male Kudu are greyer than the cows and calves who have a copper shen to their coats. Only male Kudu have long spiral horns. - Life expectancy : 12-15 years - it is possible to age males based on the shape of their horns. - Behaviour: Usually occur in small herds of 3-10 but have been known to form larger heards. Outside of rutting season, adult bulls are either solitary or in bachelor herds. Usually active in early morning or late afternoon they have taken to nocturnal activity in areas where thy have been disturbed or hunted. - Habitat : Occur only in Savannah woodland, do not occur in open grassland or forest. Have been known to occur along wooded watercourses. Prefer Acacia woodland and rocky hill country. - Reproduction : Most births take place in the summer months however calves are born thoughout the year. The Kudu cow moves away from the rest of the herd to give birth to one calf weighing about 16kg. Gestation period is is around 210 days. The calves hide for a few days until they are able to keep up with the herd. - Distribution : Occur principally in North and Eastern parts of South Africa with isolated populations in the cape province. Widely occur through central Africa south of the equatorial forests. - Did You Know? : • Kudu can easily jump over fences up to 2 metres high! • The inside of a Kudus ear is pink • The longest recorded horn length is 181.6cm - the average size is 120cm

 

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