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The Hartebeest (Alcelaphus Buselaphus), also known as Kongoni or Caama, is an African antelope. It is the only member of the genus Alcelaphus. Eight subspecies have been described, including two sometimes considered to be independent species.
The Red Hartebeest (Alcelaphus Buselaphus caama), also called the Cape Hartebeest or Caama, is a subspecies of the Hartebeest found in Southern Africa. More than 130,000 individuals live in the wild. The Red Hartebeest is closely related to the Tsessebe and the Topi.
Red Hartebeest is a large African antelope of the family Bovidae, one of ten subspecies; it is sometimes treated as a separate species, Red Hartebeest is the most colourful Hartebeest, with black markings contrasting against its white abdomen and behind. It has a longer face that other subspecies, with complex curving horns joined at the base. The average weight of a male is about 150 kg, and female is 120 kg. Their average shoulder height is 135 cm, and horns are 60 cm long. The life expectancy of a Red Hartebeest is around 19 years. Little sexual dimorphism is noted between males and females, showing no distinct identifiable physical features, but body size is slightly affected. Horn size, however, expresses more dimorphism between males and females, as males fight and defend themselves for sexual selection. Thus, male skull weight and circumference is slightly greater than that of the female. Red Hartebeest have an excellent sense of hearing and smell, although their sense of sight is poor. When alarmed, Red Hartebeest flee, reaching a maximum speed of 55 km/h. Their evasion tactic is to induce confusion by running in a zigzag pattern, making it difficult for predators to catch them.
Red Hartebeest have a gestation period of eight months, and they give birth to a single calf. They typically give birth in a seasonal pattern before the summer rain begins. After birth, calves are hidden in dense vegetation before joining a group to increase their chances of survival from predators, since they are weak. Most females begin breeding after the age of two, and can conceive again 9 or 10 months after giving birth.
Red Hartebeest are grass feeders, which is evidenced by their long snouts, which give the advantage of an improved cropping ability to acquire and masticate grasses more efficiently. During the rainy season in southern Africa, the grass species Andropogon is in abundance and is the main source of dietary consumption. As grazers, their diets fluctuate seasonally, as they consume higher-quality, green primary production in wet seasons, and lower-quality sheath material in the dry seasons. Red Hartebeest are considered less water-dependent than most alcelaphine, only needing to drink water when melons and tubers are inaccessible.
The few carnivores preying on Red Hartebeest in southern Africa include Lion, Spotted Hyena, Leopard and Cheetah. When Red Hartebeest are hunted by Lion, the felines typically prey on adult males, while both Spotted Hyena and Leopard tend to prey on vulnerable young calves. Red Hartebeest, Topi, Tsessebe and their relatives are also thought to have “oily” and unpalatable meat, at least to some predators. Additionally, their hides are often covered in oily secretions from their preorbital glands and pheromones/scent-marking behaviours.
Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest (Alcelaphus Buselaphus Lichtensteinii) is a subspecies of the Hartebeest antelope. It typically stands about 1.25 m (4.1 ft) at the shoulder and has a mass of around 150 kg (330 lb). It has a red-brown colour, which is lighter on the underbelly. The horns found on both sexes appear from the side to be shaped like the letter ‘S’, and appear from the front to be shaped like the letter ‘O’ with its upper portions missing. The horns are slightly ridged and reach over 0.5 m (1.6 ft) in length.
They live on areas where they eat grasses. They are diurnal (active in the day). They gather in herds of five to 15 females and calves with a single male, which leads them. The male stands sentry duty on termite mounds and the like. Males hold large territories, which they mark by digging up soil with their horns around the borders. Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest have good eyesight but a poor sense of smell. Their main sounds are a bellow and a sneeze-snort sound. Herds are mainly kept between 1-10 individuals. It is noted that the highest number of Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest congregating together occur in August/September. The exact reason is unknown however this is primarily when most calves are born. Add in local migration from other herds and it may a form of anti-predator grouping to protect newborn calves. However, Bachelor males are often found alone countering the herd mentality. Bachelor bulls do not establish territories while solitary bulls will exclude others from their domain.
Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest are very territorial mammals and there is no overlap in territories between bulls. The rutting period (breeding season) runs typically from mid-October to January, although slight variations exist between different locations. Bachelor bulls will often challenge alpha bulls until the point of complete exhaustion to take over the related female Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest. Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest mark their territory by forming dung piles in their respective territories.
The Coke’s Hartebeest has a long and narrow face with pointed ears. It has long legs, a sloping back, and ridged horns that are found in both males and females. It has short reddish-brown fur, a white rump, and a short tail with a blackish tuft at the end. Calves have a paler appearance.
Male Coke’s Hartebeest may measure anywhere from 117–124 cm (46-48 inches) and weigh about 129–171 kg (284-376 lbs), while female Coke’s Hartebeest are slightly smaller with a height of 112 cm (44 inches) and weigh around 116–148 kg (255-326 lbs). The horns may be up to 70 cm long.
The Coke’s Hartebeest herds represent mostly female hierarchies with a typical number of 6-30 individuals. They are semi-closed to outsiders. These herds are largely migratory. Territorial bulls usually remain separate from the females except when they’re actively herding or courting. Females can sometimes stay indefinitely on a single territory as harems. Male-only herds can be up to 35 individuals.
Pregnant females often isolate, only accompanied by one or sometimes more previous offspring. Newly birthed calves take about 30 minutes to steadily stand. Within 10 minutes, calves can walk and run. The hiding and isolation phase of females and new calves lasts for 2 weeks. Female Coke’s Hartebeest calve every 9–10 months, too early for the last calf to become independent. Male calves accompany their mothers for up to 2 years, a year longer than other alcelaphine, although they mature at the same age as wildebeests, at 3–4 years. Male calves may simply run away from the original herd or be chased away by the dominant bull at 3 years, when they join bachelor herds. Between 3–4 years, males may leave the bachelor herds and begin searching for their own territories.
The hot and dry environment of the Coke’s Hartebeest has led to the development of several thermoregulatory adaptations. This species uses panting as a means of evaporative cooling that responds to skin temperature rather than core body temperature. Cutaneous water loss is limited through maintenance of a lower basal metabolic rate, which also aids in Coke’s Hartebeest water economy. Most desert animals maintain a lower metabolic rate in keeping with the low nutrient availability within their environments. For Coke’s Hartebeest, the metabolic response during the fasted state (when food has been digested and stored) leads to adaptations that aid in protein conservation. Furthermore, they have a low water turnover amount of 9-17 litres/kg per day, in comparison to other bovines of similar size. This helps the Coke’s Hartebeest limit its water expenditure in hot and arid habitats.
The Red Hartebeest is primarily found in southwestern Africa. Southern Africa’s dissected topography, geologic diversity, climate oscillations, and mosaic of distinct vegetation types has been the primary means for radiation and diversification amidst Hartebeest species, which has led Red Hartebeest to vary slightly in their capacity to consume the diets they do. Most ungulates in Africa are nomadic, as they are dependent on food sources that become depleted if they stay in one place. Red Hartebeest lives in herds in open plains and scrublands in the sub-Saharan African climate.
Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest dwell in savannah and floodplains of Southern Central Africa. It is sometimes classified as a unique species, Sigmoceros Lichtensteinii.
Coke’s Hartebeest are found in herds on open plains and scrublands of sub-Saharan Africa. Once the widest-ranging of African antelopes, they also once lived in North Africa.
Planning carefully is the key to a good Hartebeest taxidermy job. When tanning and oiling the hides, the best chemicals and methods in the world are used to make sure they will last for generations. At Lifeform Taxidermy, we carefully choose our forms to make sure they fit well, and we’ll even custom make the forms according to any instruction, you may have in mind, at no extra cost. Full-mount trophies come with standard natural habitat bases that are made just for them. We use only the best materials and our 40 years of experience in the field to give your trophies new meaning. The finished trophies look life-like. When repair is needed, every effort is made to repair cuts and scrapes while keeping bullet damage to a minimum. Skin preparation and storage tips for a flawless Hartebeest trophy.
Take care of your trophy before you bring it to the taxidermist – field preparation is the most important start. As soon as you take the hit on your trophy, it starts to rot, and the heat of Africa speeds up the decaying process. The hunter must not drag the body of the animal from the site where it was shot to the waiting hunting truck. The trophy should be protected from the hot metal bed of the hunting truck with a thick layer of cut grass or leaves.
So that nothing goes wrong, the skinning needs to start right away. Remove all of the meat, fat, dirt, and blood from the skin. Clean the skin well. After that, allow the skin to drip dry for a short time, it should then be salted. It is recommended to soak the skin in a salt solution for at least five hours and ideally overnight. Use about 20 kg of salt per 100 litres of water. After taking the skin out of the solution, salt it while it is still flat and flesh side up on a clean surface. To get the full effect of the salt, it needs to be absorbed into the skin all over, into all the crevice’s, especially around the facial features. Put the skin in the shade with a layer of salt on it. After 24 hours, dry the cape. Fold with the hair and ears in when it’s dry. To stop insect damage, pesticides must be sprayed on the skin and in the storage area.
Red Hartebeest hunting requires a patient approach. Even after the herd has been set in motion, the animals will frequently pause to investigate the surrounding area. This is the best time to take the shot. Hartebeest have a strong herd mentality and typically gather in groups of 20 or so, though hundreds have been recorded.
Use binoculars from a high vantage point as the first step in successfully hunting a Red Hartebeest. If you’re in the open country, you should be able to spot them easily.
When hunting for Hartebeest, look for a trophy with a substantial boss. The horns should rise in a heart form and sweep back or up slightly, leaving minimal room between them. The tips should also be good.
Choose an adjustable scope rifle with a calibre between.270 and.375 and high-quality expanding rounds. During Red Hartebeest hunting, a 308-300 win mag is the best calibre to use. The bullet will usually go all the way into the animal and come out the other side.
How you choose an Hartebeest taxidermy mount depends on things like your budget, wall space, and personal taste. When it comes to the creation of a full mount, we find that considerable discussion with the customer yields the best results. This is due to the fact that each form is given a distinct shape and arrangement.
Life-Form Taxidermy will make an exact copy of the skin as soon as they get all of your mounting instructions. All of the skins are tanned and oiled with high-quality products and methods to make sure they are preserved for years. Each skin is put on a manikin to make sure that it fits well. After the eyes and ears are expertly placed, the skin is sewn by a professional. Before making any last changes, the taxidermist waits until the animal is dry. They put the trophies in crates, and the shipping company hired by the client brings them to the client.
Every year, dust the mounts with a soft brush or compressed air to fluff up the hair. Trophies should be protected from common pests by spraying a light mist of normal aerosol surface pesticide around them. Think about preserving your trophy with Mount Medix Africa. This is a product that Life-Form Taxidermy offers.
Keep trophies in a cool, dry place. Daylight makes the mounts fade over time, so artificial light is better. If there’s too much humidity, open the windows or turn on a fan. Due to salt and tan residue, hair can make moisture beads when the humidity is high. Using a tissue that soaks up water will also soak up the salts.
The pricing of any trophy is subject to the costing stipulated per taxidermy order, quantity of trophies and preferred mounting options, along with additional requirements.
Should you wish to receive a quotation prior to the hunt, the taxidermist can generate such for you. Please contact [email protected]
Taxidermy is an art form that involves a complicated step-by-step process to make sure that each trophy looks just right and is of a high enough quality that it will last your whole life.
The time it takes a taxidermist to mount an animal might range from days to weeks, and possibly several months, depending on the quantity of trophies per taxidermy order, the display preferences, and volumes of client trophies to be produced, simultaneously, per production schedule.
This depends largely on the “what, how, when” factors. A taxidermy order also only becomes available for production scheduling upon receipt of the required deposit and trophy mounting instructions.
