KUDU

Facts

Greater Kudu

The Greater Kudu is one of the largest species of antelope, being slightly smaller than the Bongo. Bulls weigh 190–270 kg (420–600 lb), with a maximum of 315 kg (694 lb), and stand up to 160 cm (63 in) tall at the shoulder. The ears of the Greater Kudu are large and round. Cows weigh 120–210 kg (260–460 lb) and stand as little as 100 cm (39 in) tall at the shoulder; they are hornless, without a beard or nose markings. The head-and-body length is 185–245 cm (6.07–8.04 ft), to which the tail may add a further 30–55 cm (12–22 in).

Greater Kudu have a narrow body with long legs, and their coats can range from brown/bluish grey to reddish brown. They possess between 4 and 12 vertical white stripes along their torso. The head tends to be darker in colour than the rest of the body, and exhibits a small white chevron which runs between the eyes. Greater Kudu bulls tend to be much larger than the cows, and vocalize much more, utilizing low grunts, clucks, humming, and gasping. The bulls also have beards running along their throats, and large horns with two and a half twists, which, were they to be straightened, would reach an average length of 120 cm (47 in), with the record being 187.64 cm (73.87 in). They diverge slightly as they slant back from the head. The horns do not begin to grow until the bull is between the ages of 6–12 months. The horns form the first spiral rotation at around 2 years of age, and not reaching the full two and a half rotations until they are 6 years old; occasionally they may even have 3 full turns.

Their diet consists of leaves, grass, shoots and occasionally tubers, roots and fruit (they are especially fond of oranges and tangerines).

During the day, Greater Kudu normally cease to be active and instead seek cover under woodland, especially during hot days. They feed and drink in the early morning and late afternoon, acquiring water from waterholes or roots and bulbs that have a high water content. Although they tend to stay in one area, the Greater Kudu may search over a large distance for water in times of drought, in southern Namibia where water is relatively scarce they have been known to cover extensive distances in very short periods of time.

Predators of the Greater Kudu generally consist of Lion, Spotted Hyenas and African Wild Dog. When a herd is threatened by predators, an adult (usually a female) will issue a bark to alert the rest of the herd. Despite being very nimble over rocky hillsides and mountains, the Greater Kudu is not fast enough (nor does it have enough endurance) to escape its main predators over open terrain, so it tends to rely on leaping over shrubs and small trees to shake off pursuers. Greater Kudu have excellent hearing and acute eyesight, which helps to alert them to approaching predators. Their colouring and markings protect Kudu by camouflaging them. If alarmed, they usually stand still, making them very difficult to spot.

Greater Kudu have a lifespan of 7 to 8 years in the wild, and up to 23 years in captivity. They may be active throughout the 24-hour day. Herds disperse during the rainy season when food is plentiful. During the dry season, there are only a few concentrated areas of food so the herds will congregate. Greater Kudu are not territorial; they have home areas instead. Maternal herds have home ranges of approximately 4 square kilometres and these home ranges can overlap with other maternal herds. Home ranges of adult males are about 11 square kilometres and generally encompass the ranges of two or three female groups. Females usually form small groups of 6–10 with their offspring, but sometimes they can form a herd of up to 20 individuals. Male Kudu may form small bachelor groups, but they are more commonly found as solitary and widely dispersed individuals. Solitary males will join the group of females and calves (usually 6–10 individuals per group) only during the mating season (April–May in South Africa).

The male Kudu are not always physically aggressive with each other, but sparring can sometimes occur between males, especially when both are of similar size and stature. The male Kudu exhibit this sparring behaviour by interlocking horns and shoving one another. Dominance is established until one male exhibits the lateral display.

Greater Kudu reach sexual maturity between 1 and 3 years of age. The mating season occurs at the end of the rainy season, which can fluctuate slightly according to the region and climate. Before mating, there is a courtship ritual which consists of the male standing in front of the female and often engaging in a neck wrestle. The male then trails the female while issuing a low pitched call until the female allows him to copulate with her. Gestation takes around 240 days (or eight months). Calving generally starts between February and March (late austral summer), when the grass tends to be at its highest.

Greater Kudu tend to bear one calf, although occasionally there may be two. The pregnant female Kudu will leave her group to give birth; once she gives birth, the newborn is hidden in vegetation for about 4 to 5 weeks (to avoid predation). After 4 or 5 weeks, the offspring will accompany its mother for short periods of time; then by 3 to 4 months of age, it will accompany her at all times. By the time it is 6 months old, it is quite independent of its mother. The majority of births occur during the wet season (January to March). In terms of maturity, female Greater Kudu reach sexual maturity at 15–21 months. Males reach maturity at 21–24 months.

Lesser Kudu

The Lesser Kudu is a spiral-horned antelope. The head-and-body length is typically between 110 and 140 cm (43 and 55 in). Males reach about 95–105 cm (37–41 in) at the shoulder, while females reach 90–100 cm (35–39 in). Males typically weigh 92–108 kg (203–238 lb) and females 56–70 kg (123–154 lb). The bushy tail is 25–40 cm (9.8–15.7 in) long, white underneath and with a black tip at the end.

Distinct signs of sexual dimorphism are seen in the antelope. The male is considerably larger than the female. The females, as well as juveniles, have a rufous coat, whereas the males become yellowish grey or darker after the age of 2 years. The male has a prominent black crest of hair on the neck, but this feature is not well-developed in the female. One long white stripe runs along the back, with 11–14 white stripes branching towards the sides. The chest has a central black stripe, and no throat beard is present. A black stripe runs from each eye to the nose and a white one from each eye to the centre of the dark face. A chevron is present between the eyes. The area around the lips is white, the throat has white patches, and two white spots appear on each side of the lower jaw. The underparts are completely white, while the slender legs are tawny and have black and white patches. The Lesser Kudu is characterised by large, rounded ears. Its tracks are similar to the Greater Kudu. Females have four teats. The average lifespan is 10 years in the wild, and 15 years in captivity.

Horns are present only on males. The spiral horns are 50–70 cm (20–28 in) long, and have two to two-and-a-half twists. The base circumference is 156–171 cm (61–67 in). The slender horns are dark brown and tipped with white. Male young begin developing horns after 6-8 months, which reach full length after 3 years.

The Lesser Kudu is mainly active at night and during the dawn, and seeks shelter in dense thickets just after the sunrise. It can camouflage so well in such dense vegetation that only its ears and tail can indicate its presence. The midday is spent in rest and rumination in shaded areas. The animal spends about equal time foraging, standing and lying, and roaming. Being thin, the Lesser Kudu can move readily through dense vegetation with ease. The Lesser Kudu is a shy and wary animal. When alarmed, the animal stands motionless. If it senses any approaching predator, it gives out a short sharp bark, similar to the Bushbuck, then makes multiple leaps up to 2 m (6.6 ft) high with an upraised tail. If captured by the predator, the victim gives a loud bleat.

Lesser Kudu are gregarious in nature, especially females. No distinct leader or any hierarchy is noted in the social structure; with no territorial behaviour, fights are uncommon. While fighting, the Lesser Kudu interlock horns and try pushing one another. Mutual grooming is hardly observed. Unlike most Tragelaphus, females can be closely associated for several years. One to three females, along with their offspring, may form a group. Juvenile males leave their mothers when aged a year and a half, and may form pairs. However, at the age of 4-5 years, males prefer a solitary lifestyle and avoid one another, though four or five bulls may share the same home range. Lesser Kudu do not usually associate with other animals, except when they feed in the same area.

A pure browser, the Lesser Kudu feeds on foliage from bushes and trees (shoots, twigs) and herbs. It also eats flowers and fruits if available, and takes small proportions of grasses, usually in the wet season. Despite seasonal and local variations, foliage from trees and shrubs constitutes 60-80% of the diet throughout the year. Foliage from creepers and vines (such as Thunbergia Guerkeana and some species of Cucurbitaceae and Convulvulaceae) forms 15-25% of the diet in the wet season. Fruits are consumed mainly in the dry season. Olfactory searching, much in the same posture as grazing, is used to find fallen fruits (such as Melia Volkensii and Acacia Tortilis), while small fruits (such as Commiphora species) are directly plucked from trees. The size and structure of its stomach also suggests its primary dependence on browse. The Lesser Kudu browses primarily at dusk or dawn, or nocturnally, and is sometimes associated with Gerenuk and the Impala. The Lesser Kudu and the Gerenuk might compete for evergreen species in the dry season. However, unlike the long-necked Gerenuk, the Lesser Kudu rarely consumes Acacia species, and does not stand on its hindlegs while feeding. The Lesser Kudu likewise does not have a great requirement for water, and can thrive in arid environments as it is able to extract sufficient moisture from succulent plants, such as the leaves of wild Sisal and Sansevieria (‘snake-plants’, genus Dracaena), and certain species of the poisonous Euphorbiaceous family; it drinks water readily when rains come or when sources are available.

Both the males and females become sexually mature by the time they are a year and a half old. However, males actually mate after the age of four to five years. Males and females are most reproductive till the age of 14 and 14–18 years, respectively, with the maximum age of successful lactation in females being 13–14 years. With no fixed breeding season, births may occur at any time of the year. A rutting male tests the urine of any female he encounters, to which the female responds by urinating. Having located a female in oestrus, the male follows her closely, trying to rub his cheek on her rump, head, neck, and chest. He performs gasping movements with his lips. The gestational period is 7-8 months, after which a single calf is born. A female about to give birth isolates herself from her group, and remains alone for some days afterward. The newborn calf weighs 4–7.5 kg (8.8–16.5 lb). Around 50% of the calves die within the first six months of birth, and only 25% can survive after three years. The mother hides her calf while she goes out to feed, and returns mainly in the evening to suckle her young. She checks the calf’s identity by sniffing its rump or neck. In the first month, suckling may occur for 8 minutes. The mother and calf communicate with low bleats. She licks her offspring, particularly in the perineal region, and may consume its excreta.