Like many other herbivores, African antelopes must rely primarily on their senses to detect approaching predators. But even so, they make up a large portion of preys killed and eaten by large predators such as cheetahs, leopards, or lions. The larger antelopes try to escape predators like lions or hyenas, by outrunning them using their long legs and speed. It is part of the red deer species, which can also be seen across Central. With its magnificent jagged horns the Barbary stag makes quite an impression. It lives in humid forests in the very north of Africa, with the largest population found in the Atlas Mountains. Small antelopes like the dik-dik measuring up to 16 inches tall, will simply hide predators until there's no danger. The Barbary stag (or Atlas deer) is Africa’s only true, native deer species. The different predators found throughout Africa also lead to different adaptations by the individual antelope species. This is caused by the different climates and terrain they live in. There is a wide range of physical characteristics and different behaviors found in the African antelope species. In some of the African antelope species both the male and females have horns on their heads, usually in the larger ones like the Roan and Eland. Northern Hartebeest, an animal which is now so rare as to lead one to think that it may have. The antelopes use their horns to fight other antelopes usually during mating season but also to protect themselves, or their herd, from predators. The smallest of the species is the Babal, or. We have some useful tips for tourists and then start planning your trip with our introduction to South Africa.All African antelope species have even-toed hooves, horizontal pupils and bony horns made of Keratin. Most of us compare or confuse antelopes with deer because of their similarity, however unlike deer antelope horns are permanent, while deer shed theirs every year.Īfrican antelopes horns vary both in shape and size, some are straight others spiraled, curved or even twisted. In some antelopes, the horns may grow up to 5 feet in length. Travelling to South Africa? We make it easy for you to plan your trip online.The following is a small sample of thousands of species of wildlife found in South Africa.Gestationġ5 to 20 years in the wild, up to 25 years in captivity. Single young are born any time of the year. Several hundred eland sometimes gather, and males may spend a few hours or even weeks with a female group before becoming solitary again. Usually older, dominant males are solitary, while other adult males form small groups of three or four.Īdult females associate in much larger groups, whose size and membership vary from day to day. The social behaviour of Eland is somewhat different from that of other antelopes. The Jackson’s chameleon, though native to the mountains of East Africa, can now be found all over the islands of Hawaii, probably due to the exotic pet trade. They use their horns to bring twigs and branches into reach. Spiral-horned antelopes belong to the subfamily Bovidae, which also includes cattle of the Bobini tribe and two aberrant species of Asian antelopes, the four. Herbivorous, they feed in areas where shrubs and bushes provide the leaves they prefer. Of course, it can be found in the world-renowned Kruger National Park (just over four hours from the Midrand in Johannesburg) but also in the Fairhill Nature Reserve (in the Cape Overberg, just two hours from Cape Town), the Mountain Zebra National Park (280 kilometres from Port Elizabeth), the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve (just outside Johannesburg), and the Mkhuze Game Reserve, 2.5 hours from Richard’s Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. See this impressive antelope in a number of South African parks and reserves. The Eland, also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. They distance themselves from deserts, forests and swamps. HabitatĮland are found in grassland, mountain, sub-desert, acacia savannah and miombo woodland areas. They use their horns to bring twigs and branches into reach. Did you know? According to the AWF, their rich milk, tasty meat, and useful hides have made elands popular ranch animals and hunting targets.Įland are found in grassland, mountain, sub-desert, acacia savannah and miombo woodland areas. Eland belong to the same group as kudus, nyala and bushbuck. Males have twisted horns which are thick and tightly spiralled, growing up to 25" in females and to 50" in males. The Eland is the world's largest antelope.
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