KUDU Tragalaphus strepsiceros

Distribution:

Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Northern Natal and in some parts of the Cape.

Diet:

They are one of the least selective browsing species eating leaves of trees, shrubs and herbs.

They do graze only to a slight extent and even then only when the grass is fresh.

Habitat:

They can be found along river beds, open woodland and in dense bush.

Habits:

They will move around in social groups of cows and their off- spring, only the young males will leave in time.

They will intermix with other groups of kudu in a peaceful manner but if one member remains from a group that does not belong, it will be chased and butted by the others.

Upon leaving their nursery groups the young males will form bachelor groups.

Kudu can recognize each other by sight due to the fact that they each have an individual stripe pattern.

Due to the males being more solitary than the females they get taken by predators more often than females.

They freeze in the presence of predators and rely on their camouflage to escape detection.

Breeding:

Females normally give birth to one young after a gestation period of 7 months.

Predators:

Lions, Hyena, Leopard, Cheetah and Wild Dogs.