Kudu
(Tragelaphus Strepsiceros)
- Height 160cm
- Weight A large bull will weigh over 300kg, females 90kg less
- Gestation 9 Months
- Longevity 7-8 years, but females much longer
Kudu are a large light-greyish brown antelope standing about 1.5m at the shoulders and weighing up to 300kg. The males have massive corkscrew/spiral horns (which are quite magnificent) while the females lack horns and are smaller. They both have a series of vertical white stripes on their sides and both have large ears which are more conspicuous in the females.
They are fairly common in the South Luangwa National Park, but
not always easy to find because of the retiring habits and preference
for dense thickets. However when the cows are in season and joined
by a bull they seem to lose their alertness and become more approachable.
Kudu are purely browsers and are not known to eat grass. They are fond of the evergreen ‘Trichelia Emetica’ and where these trees occur you will see a very distinct browse line as if the tree has been pruned with clippers.
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