Kudu
Afrikaans name : Koedoe
Scientific name : family Bovidae.
The greater kudu is classified as Tragelaphus strepsiceros, and the
lesser kudu as Tragelaphus imberbis.
 Region
: The greater kudu is found in hilly woodlands in southern, central, and eastern Africa.
 Description
: The second tallest
and a very graceful and beautiful
species of antelope
with a reddish-brown to pale gray coat and a
white stripe along the middle of its back and many transverse 6 to 10
white torso stripes on each side.
The Head is small with
huge, cup shaped ears, they have dark garters on upper legs, and a black tipped tail with white underside.
Colour, red brown to blue gray.
Habitat : Greater kudus are found in
the dry forests and dense brush. Lesser kudu is found in dry, thick
brush-land in eastern Africa. Preferred habitat of mixed scrub woodland,
acacia, and mopane bush on lowlands, hills, and mountains. Kudu display great seasonal
migrations, from deciduous woodland in the rainy season to the dry seasons
grouping along rivers and the more nutritious and evergreen growth at
the bases of hills.
Weight : max. 190- 315 kg.
 Height
: greater kudu up to 1.5 m at shoulder. lesser kudu - 105 cm at shoulder
Horns : males display spectacular long
twisting and spiraled horns, sometimes more
than 1 m long, (2.5 turns). Female is hornless.
Food : mostly leaf browsers but known to eat herbs, fallen fruits, vines, tubers, succulents, and
flowers, sometimes varied with a little new grass.
 Habits
: Forages day and night. Timid, gentle natures. They are highly nomadic and travels great distances in response to seasonal changes.
They are usually seen in small herds and sometimes males can be solitary or in bachelor parties.
They can
clear 2.2 meters in one jump. Range of 360-450 ha - bachelor herds - up
to 1100 ha. Herds average 5 or 6 members with temporary mergers of cow herds
forming groups of up to 20 / 30 kudus.
Young : Calving season every Febuary to March when grass is long
. Maturity at 3 years for females and 5 years for males. Gestation
period 9 months.
Predators : Hyena and Lion
are their main preditators, but Cheetah, Jackal
and Leopards can prey on their young.
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