The English word “antelope” is derived from the old French word antelope, which is also derived from Medieval Latin ant (h) alopus.
The term antelope refers to numerous extant or recently extinct species of the ruminant artiodactyl family Bovidae (animals with even divided hooves) that are mostly indigenous to Africa, India, the Middle East, Central Asia, and a small area of Eastern Europe. Antelopes do not form a monophyletic group meaning they do not move in groups of common ancestors, as some antelopes are more closely related to other bovid groups, like bovines, goats, and sheep, than to other antelopes.
Antelopes are often classified by their reproductive behavior.
Small antelope, such as dik-diks, tend to be monogamous. They live in a forest environment with patchy resources, and a male is unable to monopolize more than one female due to this sparse distribution. Larger forest species often form very small herds of two to four females and one male.
Large grazing antelopes, such as impala or wildebeest, form large herds made up of many females and a single breeding male, which excludes all other males, often by combat.
In defense, fast-running gazelles prefer open grassland habitat, Antelope pursue a number of defense strategies, often dictated by their morphology.
Large antelopes that gather in large herds, such as wildebeest, rely on numbers and running speed for protection. In some species, adults will encircle the offspring, protecting them from predators when threatened. Many forest antelope rely on cryptic coloring and good hearing to avoid predators. Forest antelope often have very large ears and dark or striped colorations. Small antelope, especially duikers, evade predation by jumping into dense bush where the predator cannot pursue. Klipspringers use a behavior known as stotting to confuse predators.
Open grassland species have nowhere to hide from predators, so they tend to be fast runners. They are agile and have good endurance—these are advantages when pursued by sprint-dependent predators such as cheetahs, which are the fastest of land animals, but tire quickly. Reaction distances vary with predator species and behaviour. For example, gazelles may not flee from a lion until it is closer than 200 m (650 ft)—lions hunt as a pride or by surprise, usually by stalking; one that can be seen clearly is unlikely to attack. However, sprint-dependent cheetahs will cause gazelles to flee at a range of over 800 metres (1⁄2 mile).
If escape is not an option, antelopes are capable of fighting back. Oryxes in particular have been known to stand sideways like many unrelated bovids to appear larger than they are, and may charge at a predator as a last resort.
There are more than 91 antelope species existing in the world and most of which are native to Africa than to any other continent. Uganda harbors a variety of antelope species and among these include;
Common eland
The common eland (Taurotragus oryx), also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a large-sized savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. It is a species of the family Bovidae and genus Taurotragus. An adult male is around 1.6 m (5.2 ft) tall at the shoulder (females are 20 cm (7.9 in) shorter) and can weigh up to 942 kg with a typical range of 500–600 kg , 340–445 kg for females). It is the second-largest antelope in the world, being slightly smaller on average than the giant eland. Males are much larger than females, weighing 200-400 kilos more than females.
Mainly a herbivore, its diet is primarily grasses and leaves. Common elands form herds of up to 500 animals, but are not territorial. The common eland prefers habitats with a wide variety of flowering plants such as savannah, woodlands, and open and montane grasslands; it avoids dense forests. It uses loud barks, visual and postural movements, and the flehmen response to communicate and warn others of danger.
In Uganda, the common eland is found in Kidepo Valley national park, Lake Mburo national park and Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve.
It has a rather bovine appearance: fawn-brown, with a large dewlap and short, spiralled horns, and in some cases, light white stripes on its sides. Its hide is a uniform fawn colour with some vertical white striping on the upper parts.
A dewlap, thought to be an adaptation for heat dissipation, hangs from the throat and neck. Heavy horns are twisted in a corkscrew fashion and grow up to 4 ft. long on males and 2.2 ft, and males have long hairs on the throat.
Common eland herds in Uganda usually reach 25 individuals, although larger temporary herds of females and calves occur during the wet season. They may have more than one adult male in a flock, but a strict dominance hierarchy controls access to breeding females.
Home ranges of females, which make extensive movements during the wet season, are much more populated than male territories, which occur primarily in wooded areas.
Common elands fight with horns; they feel out each other’s horns and then push with all their might.
The common eland feed on a wide diversity of plant species consisting of grasses, herbs, tree leaves, bushes, and succulent fruits, they always live in open areas and can exist for long periods without open water but rely on the fruits of Tsamas and Gemsbok Cucumbers to meet their water requirements.
For reproduction, dominant males mate with multiple females and the gestation period lasts from 8.5-9 months, and only single young are born.
Small calves lie in concealment rather than remaining with their mothers and wean their young after six months. Eland is sexually mature at three and can live to 25 years.
Greater Kudu
The greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is a large woodland antelope, found throughout eastern and southern Africa, despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas due to declining habitat, deforestation, and poaching. The greater kudu is one of two species commonly known as kudu, the other being the lesser kudu.
Greater kudus 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.
Figure 3: Male greater kudu
This is one of the largest species of antelope. 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).
The habitat for greater kudu includes mixed scrub woodlands, it is one of the few largest mammals that prefer living in settled areas – in scrub woodland and bush on abandoned fields and degraded pastures, mopane bush and acacia in lowlands, hills and mountains. They will occasionally venture onto plains only if there is a large abundance of bushes, but normally avoid such open areas to avoid becoming an easy target for their predators. 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 kudus 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.
Predators of the greater kudu generally consist of lions, spotted hyenas, and African wild dogs. Although cheetahs and leopards also prey on greater kudus, they usually target cows and calves rather than fully grown bulls. There are several instances reported where Nile crocodiles have preyed on greater kudus.
Greater kudus 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 kilometers and these home ranges can overlap with other maternal herds. Home ranges of adult males are about 11 square kilometers 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 up to 20 individuals. Male kudus 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.
Figure 4: Image of a female greater kudu
The male kudus 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 kudus exhibit this sparring behavior by interlocking horns and shoving one another. Dominance is established until one male exhibits the lateral display. In rare circumstances, sparring can result in both males being unable to free themselves from the other’s horns, which can then result in the death of both animals.
Rarely will a herd reach a size of forty individuals, partly because of the selective nature of their diet which would make foraging for food difficult in large groups.
Greater kudus 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).
Greater kudus 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. In terms of maturity, female greater kudus reach sexual maturity at 15–21 months. Males reach maturity at 21–24 months.
In Uganda, you’ll see this handsome ungulate in Kidepo Valley National Park, up in the extreme southwestern corner.
Jackson’s hartebeest
The Jackson’s hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) is a large and ungainly looking, tan-coloured antelope, relating to the wildebeest (not in Uganda) and has large shoulders, a sloping back and relatively small horns. It lives in small herds in lightly wooded and open savanna habitats.
The common hartebeest species in Uganda is Jackson’s hartebeest (A. b. Jackson), and the Lelwel hartebeest (A. b. lelwel) occupies west of the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park.
Jackson’s hartebeest is most frequently seen in Murchison Falls National Park and occurs in Kidepo Valley National Park. Hartebeests are social animals living in organized herds of up to 300 animals. They have been known to form aggregations of up to 10,000 animals.
Figure 5: Image of the Jackson’s hartebeest
Within a herd, there are four types of animals: territorial adult males, non-territorial adult males, groups of young males, and groups of females and young. Females within a herd form groups of 5-12 animals with up to four generations of offspring in their group, and they do not form secure groups with other adult females.
It is thought that there are dominant solid relationships between females and that these groups define the social structure of the entire herd. Females have been observed to fight one another occasionally.
Male offspring may remain with their mother for up to three years but usually leave their mothers at about 20 months to join groups of other young males.
At 3 to 4 years old, males may begin to attempt to take over a territory and the females within it. Once a territory has been established, the male will defend it and does not usually leave.
Males are aggressive and, if challenged, will fight. A series of head movements and stances and depositing droppings on established dung piles precedes any contact. If that does not suffice, males bend forward and leap with their horns lowered. Injuries and fatalities do occur but are pretty rare.
Females and young may move in and out of the territories freely, following the best grazing. Males lose their territory after 7 to 8 years.
Hartebeests are usually conspicuous and passive, and they may have a sentinel to warn the herd of predators. Although appearing slightly awkward, they may reach 70 to 80 kph speeds. They are very alert and cautious in comparison to other ungulates.
Figure 6: A herd or Jackson’s heartbeests
Hartebeests rely primarily on their vision to spot predators and snort to warn each other of approaching danger. They gallop away in single file after seeing one of the herd members bolts. They have been observed tacking, making a sharp 90-degree turn after taking only 1-2 strides in a given direction.
The best place to see the hartebeest in Uganda is visiting Murchison falls national park and Kidepo Valley national park this have bigger population of Jackson’s hartebeest you can watch on a Uganda safari.
Defassa water buck
The waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is a large antelope, it is placed in the genus Kobus of the family Bovidae. They are grouped under two varieties: the common or ellipsiprymnus waterbuck and the defassa waterbuck. The head-and-body length is typically between 177 and 235 cm (70 and 93 in) and the typical height is between 120 and 136 cm (47 and 54 in).
In this sexually dimorphic antelope, males are taller and heavier than females. Males reach roughly 127 cm (50 in) at the shoulder, while females reach 119 cm (47 in). Males typically weigh 198–262 kg (437–578 lb) and females 161–214 kg (355–472 lb). Their coat colour varies from brown to grey. The long, spiral horns, present only on males, curve backward, then forward, and are 55–99 cm (22–39 in) long.
Figure 7: Clear image of a female defassa waterbuck
Waterbucks are rather sedentary in nature meaning they spend much time sitting. As gregarious animals, they may form herds consisting of six to 30 individuals. These groups are either nursery herds with females together with their offspring or bachelor herds. Males start showing territorial behaviour from the age of 5 years, but are most dominant from the six to nine. The waterbuck cannot tolerate dehydration in hot weather, and that is why they stay in areas close to sources of water. Predominantly a grazer, the waterbuck is mostly found on grassland. In equatorial regions, breeding takes place throughout the year, but births are at their peak in the rainy season. The gestational period lasts 7–8 months and gives birth to a single calf.
Waterbucks inhabit scrub and savanna areas along rivers, lakes, and valleys. Due to their requirement for grass and water.
The waterbuck’s shaggy coat is reddish brown to grey, and becomes progressively darker with age. Males are darker than females. Though apparently thick, the hair is sparse on the coat. The hair on the neck is, however, long and shaggy. When sexually excited, the skin of the waterbuck secretes a greasy substance with the odor of musk, giving it the name “greasy kob”. The odor of this is so unpleasant that it repels predators. This secretion also assists in water-proofing the body when the animal dives into water, the facial features include a white muzzle and light eyebrows and lighter insides of the ears.
A cream-coloured patch (called “bib”) is on the throat. Waterbucks are characterized by a long neck and short, strong, black legs, Females have two nipples. Preorbital glands, foot glands, and inguinal glands are absent.
The long, spiral horns curve backward, then forward. Found only on males, the horns range from 55 to 99 cm (22 to 39 in) in length. To some extent, the length of the horns is related to the bull’s age. A rudimentary horn in the form of a bone lump may be found on the skulls of females.
Waterbuck are rather sedentary in nature, though some migration may occur with the onset of monsoon. A gregarious animal, the waterbuck may form herds consisting of six to 30 individuals. The various groups are the nursery herds, bachelor herds and territorial males. Herd size increases in summer, whereas groups fragment in the winter months, probably under the influence of food availability.
As soon as young males start developing horns (at around seven to nine months of age), they are chased out of the herd by territorial bulls. These males then form bachelor herds and may roam in female home ranges. Females have home ranges stretching over 200–600 hectares (0.77–2.32 sq mi; 490–1,480 acres). A few females may form spinster herds. Though females are seldom aggressive, minor tension may arise in herds.
Figure 8: Image of the male defassa water buck
Territorial males may use several kinds of display. In one type of display, the white patch on the throat and between the eyes is clearly revealed, and other displays can demonstrate the thickness of the neck. These activities frighten trespassers. Lowering of the head and the body depict submission before the territorial male, who stands erect. Fights, which may last up to thirty minutes, involve threat displays typical of bovids accompanied by snorting. Fights may even become so violent that one of the opponents meets its death due to severe abdominal or thoracic wounds. A silent animal, the waterbuck makes use of flehmen response for visual communication and alarm snorts for vocal communication.
Waterbuck often enter water to escape from predators which include lions, spotted hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs and Nile crocodiles (leopards and hyenas prey on juveniles). However, it has been observed that the waterbuck does not particularly like being in water. Waterbuck may run into cover when alarmed, and males often attack predators.
Waterbuck are slower than other antelopes in terms of the rate of maturity. While males become sexually mature at the age of six years, females reach maturity within two to three years, females may conceive by the age of two-and-a-half years, and remain reproductive for another ten years. In equatorial regions, breeding takes place throughout the year, and births are at their peak in the rainy season.
Mating begins after the male confirms that the female is in estrus, which he does by sniffing her vulva and urine. A resistive female would try to bite or even fight off an advancing male. The male exhibits flehmen, and often licks the neck of the female and rubs his face and the base of his horns against her back. There are several attempts at mounting before the actual copulation. The female shifts her tail to one side, while the male clasps her sides with his forelegs and rests on her back during copulation, which may occur as many as ten times.
The gestational period lasts for seven to eight months, followed by the birth of a single calf. Twins are rare. Pregnant females isolate themselves in thickets as parturition approaches. Newborn calves can stand on their feet within a half-hour of birth. The mother eats the afterbirth and she communicates with the calf by bleating or snorting. Calves are kept hidden from two to three weeks up to two months. And about three to four weeks, the calf begins following its mother, who signals it to do so by raising her tail.
Though bereft of horns, mothers will fiercely defend their offspring from predators. Calves are weaned at eight months, following which time they join groups of calves of their own age. Young females remain with their mothers in nursery herds, or may also join bachelor herds. The waterbuck lives to 18 years in the wild and 30 years in captivity.
In Uganda, they are found in suitable habitats in Uganda’s savanna national parks like Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Kidepo Valley National Parks.
Roan antelopes
The roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) is a large savanna-dwelling antelope named for its roan colour (a reddish brown), it has lighter underbellies, white eyebrows and cheeks and black faces, lighter in females. It has short, erect manes, very light beards and prominent red nostrils. It is one of the largest antelope, measuring 190–240 cm (75–94 in) from head to the base of the tail, and a 37–48 cm (15–19 in) long tail. Males weigh 242–300 kg (534–661 lb) and females 223–280 kg (492–617 lb). Its shoulder height is around 130–140 cm (51–55 in).
The roan antelope is a large antelope with a horse-like build. It is the largest antelope in the genus Hippotragus, and one of the largest species of antelopes in the world. Only elands, bongos and large male greater kudus can exceed them in weight on average. The roan antelope stands 135–160 cm (53–63 in) at the shoulder, and weighs 230–320 kilograms (510–710 pounds). The head-and-body length is typically between 235 and 285 cm (93 and 112 inches). The dark tail, terminating in a black tuft, measures up to 54 cm (21 in).
Characteristic features include a short, erect mane of grayish brown hair extending from the back of the neck along the midline of the back up to the withers, white patches around the eyes and the mouth on the otherwise black face, and long, narrow ears with 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) long tufts. The horns are ringed and arched backwards, which can reach 100 cm (39 in) long in males, slightly shorter in females. The long legs are supported by large hooves. The short, smooth coat is brown to amber. The ventral parts are yellow to white, while the neck and the manes are gray to black.
Figure 9: Roan antelopes in the wilderness
Roan antelopes can be found in woodland, grassland, and savannah; mainly in the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, which range in tree density from forest with a grassy understory to grasslands dotted with few trees, where they eat mid-length grasses.
They live in small groups and form harem groups of 5 to 15 animals with one dominant male. Males commonly fight among themselves for dominance of their herd, brandishing their horns while both animals are on their knees.
In Uganda, the roan antelope is present only in small numbers in Pian Upe Game Reserve and has become locally extinct in Kidepo Valley and Lake Mburo National parks.
Uganda Kob
The Ugandan kob (Kobus kob thomasi) is an antelope subspecies of the kob. Uganda’s national antelope is a race of the West African kob confined to grassy floodplains and open vegetation near water in Uganda and southern Sudan.
Although closely related to the waterbuck and reedbuck, Uganda kob is reddish-brown, similar to the impala but bulkier in appearance and lacking the impala’s black side-stripe.
The underside of its body is white. A white ring appears around its eyes and a white chevron on the throat. It has a black stripe that runs down the front of each foreleg. Males have horns; though lyre-shaped, they are shorter, thicker, and ringed almost to the tip.
Figure 10: Female and male Uganda kob
Uganda kob lives in herds of up to 100 animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and neighbouring conservation areas, Semliki National Park and Katonga Wildlife Reserve.
They usually live in herds and are generally found near water in savannah plains, woodlands, swamps, and flood plains.
Unlike other antelopes, Uganda kob males practice the art of courtship that involves premating and post mating behaviour. The males are gentle with the females, enticing them to stay in their territory rather than forcing them. They make soft noises during courtship play, repeatedly whistling through their nostrils after mating. The sound sweeps across breeding grounds, and the other territorial males sometimes echo it back.
Uganda kobs can hold solid social structures of up to 100 individuals, the social structure is based on small herds coming together to form larger groups of up to 1,000 animals.
Unlike most other antelopes, kobs have permanent breeding grounds, called leks, where almost all mating takes place — some of which have been in continuous use for more than five decades. Lekking grounds are usually in an elevated area near water, roughly circular with a diameter of about 18 to 90 meters.
When females are in mating season, they are roused by the concentrated deposits of hormone-rich urine in the leks. Competition for the innermost territories is fierce during mating seasons, and males will hold their territories for at least 24 hours before relinquishing them.
Uganda kobs graze on short grass and depend on larger animals like elephants, hippos, buffalo, hartebeest and topi for prime grazing grounds.
Like waterbuck and reedbucks, they develop attachments to particular places, returning to the same grazing grounds and watering holes for days and seasons. Conflicts in kob are very common among males for mating rights.
You can’t miss seeing kob during a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Semuliki and Katonga wildlife reserve.
Bush buck
Bushbucks are a species of antelope belonging to the family Bovidae. They are known for their distinctive reddish-brown to dark brown coats with white stripes and spots, and their ability to adapt to a variety of habitats, from dense forests to open savannas.
The bushbuck is a medium-sized antelope belonging to the family Bovidae. They have a compact, muscular build and stand at a shoulder height of 70–80 cm Male bushbucks are larger than the females, with an average mass of 45 kg (up to 77 kg), while females have an average mass of about 30 kg (up to 60 kg). Males possess spiral horns that are slightly ridged, with an average length of 26 cm, ranging up to 45 (54.3) cm. Their face may or may not have a broad, white stripe between the forehead and the nose and a dark patch around the eyes.
Figure 11: Image of a female bushbuck antelope
The bushbuck has large, rounded ears and a keen sense of hearing and smell to help detect predators. The colouration of their coats range from chestnut to dark brown, with white lines and spots on the flanks to a greater or lesser extent. The males’ lower legs are lighter in colour than the body coat. The bushbuck’s coat provides excellent camouflage in their natural habitat, and they also have a short, bushy tail with white underside.
They are active during the day and night and are generally solitary or found in small groups. Bushbucks are known to be territorial and will mark their territories with their scent and visual cues such as broken branches.
The bushbuck makes a variety of different sounds and calls that are used for communication within their social groups. The bark, which is emitted by both males and females, is a distinctive, powerful, resonant sound that can travel a considerable distance. It acts as a warning signal to other members of the group of prospective risks or the presence of predators.
Bushbucks may emit short, sharp snorts as an extra warning signal when disturbed or startled. Males generate a succession of grunts and groans as part of their wooing display throughout the mating season. These vocalisations are used to attract females and establish dominance over other males in the vicinity.
Bushbucks are adapted to a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, savannas and riverine areas. They are most commonly found in dense forests and thickets, where they can take cover from predators, but they can also be found in more open habitats such as savannas and grasslands. The distribution and habitat of bushbucks are closely tied to the availability of suitable vegetation and water resources, as well as the presence of predators and other potential threats. In general, bushbucks prefer areas with dense vegetation cover, as they rely on this cover to hide from predators and to find food. Bushbucks are also adapted to living near water sources, as they require regular access to drinking water.
Figure 12: Male bushbuck antelope in Ugandan wilderness
Bushbucks have distinct mating habits and life cycles. During the mating season, the timing of which varies depending on the region, males compete for dominance and access to females. Dominant males establish territories and engage in displays of strength and aggression to assert their reproductive rights.
Mating rituals often involve males marking their territories with scent from facial glands and engaging in impressive displays, such as parallel walking and circling. Females, known as ewes, choose a dominant male based on these displays and scent cues. After successful mating, the gestation period of a bushbuck lasts approximately six to seven months (180 days).
The female gives birth to a single calf, which is typically well-developed and able to stand and walk shortly after birth. The mother hides the newborn in dense vegetation for protection and periodically returns to nurse and groom it. The calf relies on its mother’s milk for the first few months but gradually starts to consume solid food such as leaves and shoots as it grows older. It remains under the care and guidance of the mother until it gains independence, which occurs around the age of one year. Bushbucks can live up to 10 to 12 years in the wild, although some individuals may reach even longer lifespans if conditions are favorable.
Bushbucks typically live alone rather than in huge groups. Within their preferred habitat, which might include dense forests and thickets, they frequently establish tiny home ranges and maintain separate territories. Bushbucks defend their territory against entering members of the same sex and leave scent traces to indicate their presence there. Their contacts with other bushbucks in their home region may be tolerated, although they typically only engage in mating rituals or territorial conflicts. Female bushbucks, however, might be more accepting of one another’s presence, and moms might care for their young close to one another.
Bushbucks are often attracted to fruit and leaves dropped by baboons and monkeys. Pythons and large and medium-sized carnivores prey on them.
Bushbucks employ several smart strategies to enhance their survival in their natural habitat. They can blend in with their surroundings without being seen by predators thanks to their reddish- to dark brown coats that are covered in white patches and stripes. They are skilled at hiding in thickets, using their agility and leaping prowess to move quickly through the bushes and get away from any danger.
Bushbucks hold significant symbolism for several clans in Uganda. It is considered a totem animal, and consuming its meat is prohibited due to a belief that it causes severe body swelling. As totems are associated with supernatural beings, they can be kept as pets and are treated with religious reverence. It is also believed that the mystical power contained within the horns of bushbucks is linked to wooden sculptures capable of coming to life and practice sorcery. These power figures, known for their strength in safeguarding entire communities, adorn themselves with bushbuck horns.
In Uganda bushbucks are found in almost all national parks and other wildlife reserves.
Sitatunga
The sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii) or marshbuck is a swamp-dwelling medium-sized antelope mostly confined to swampy and marshy habitats. Here they occur in tall and dense vegetation as well as seasonal swamps, marshy clearings in forests, riparian thickets and mangrove swamps.
The scientific name of the sitatunga is Tragelaphus spekii. The species was first described by the English explorer John Hanning Speke in 1863. Speke first observed the sitatunga at a lake named “Little Windermere” (now Lake Lwelo, located in Kagera, Tanzania). In his book Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile, Speke called the animal “nzoé” (Kiswahili name for the animal) or “water-boc” (due to its resemblance to the waterbuck). The word “sitatunga” itself comes from an ancient Bantu language.
Within Tragelaphus, the bushbuck, bongo, sitatunga and nyala (T. angasii) are particularly close relatives. The bushbuck and sitatunga are genetically similar enough to hybrids. Hybrids between bongo and sitatunga have proved to be fertile.
On the basis of physical characteristics such as hair texture, coat colour and the coat stripes, up to ten subspecies of the sitatunga have been described. However, these factors may not be reliable since hair texture could vary with the climate, while pelage colour and markings vary greatly among individuals. Moreover, the coat might darken and the stripes and spots on it might fade with age, especially in males.
The species might even be monotypic, however, based on different drainage systems, three distinct subspecies are currently recognized and one of them is that found in Uganda called the T. s. spekii (Speke, 1863): Nile sitatunga or East African sitatunga. Found in the Nile watershed.
Figure 13: Male sitatunga resting near a stream of water
In Uganda, you are likely to see sitatunga and many other related antelope at Katonga Wildlife Reserve in western Uganda, along the Katonga River banks.
Sitatunga are active mainly during the early hours after dawn, the last one or two hours before dusk, and at night, and spend a large part of this time feeding. Basically sedentary, they rest in flat areas and reed beds, especially during the hotter part of the day. They seldom leave their swamp habitat during the daytime.
Though sitatunga commonly form pairs or remain solitary, larger groups have also been observed. A study in Kenya recorded a herd of as many as nine individuals, comprising an adult male, four females and four juveniles. Loose groups may be formed but interaction among individuals is very low. Individuals generally associate only with their own sex.
The sitatunga is not territorial. Males may engage in locking horns with other males and attacking vegetation using their horns. They may perform feinting by raising their forelegs with the hind legs rooted in the ground as a threat display.
Sitatunga interact with each other by first touching their noses, which may be followed by licking each other and nibbling. Alarmed animals may stand motionless, with the head held high and one leg raised. Sitatunga may occasionally emit a series of coughs or barks, usually at night, which may cause other animals to join in, and these sounds can be heard across the swamp. This barking may be used by females to warn off other females. Males often utter a low bellow on coming across a female or a herd of females in the mating season. A low-pitched squeak may be uttered while feeding. Mothers communicate with their calves by bleats.
Sitatunga can feed or rest close to southern lechwe herds, but do not interact with them. They often attract yellow-billed oxpeckers, African jacanas and great egrets. Sitatunga are good swimmers, but limit themselves to water with profuse vegetation in order to escape crocodiles.
In some cases, for instance when troubled by flies or pursued by predators, the sitatunga might fully submerge themselves in the water except for the nose and the eyes, which they keep slightly above the water surface. Due to its close association with water, the sitatunga are often described as “aquatic antelopes”, like the waterbuck. They often dry themselves under the sun after feeding in water. Predators of the sitatunga include lions, wild dogs, crocodiles and leopards.
Figure 14: Female sitatunga grazing
Females are sexually mature by one year of age, while males take one-and-a-half-year before they mature. Breeding occurs throughout the year. When females gather, the males compete among each other for the right to mate, showing polygyny in males. The rutting male approaches the female in a lower bending posture, sniffing her vulva. The female may move slowly or react nervously.
Even if the female flees, the male continues pursuing her steadily, without showing any sign of hurry. A receptive female will raise her head with her mouth wide open, following which the male will begin attempts at mounting. At the time of mounting the female lowers her head, while the male first bends and then straightens his forelegs and rests his head and neck on her back. The two remain together for one or two days, during which time the male ensures that no other male can approach the female.
Gestation lasts for nearly eight months, after which generally a single calf is born. Parturition occurs throughout the year, though a peak may occur in the dry season. Calves are hidden adroitly, and brought out of cover only in the presence of many other sitatunga. The mother gazes and nods at the calf to summon it for nursing.
A calf follows its mother about even after she has given birth to another calf. The mother suckles and licks her calf for about six months. The calf takes time to master the specialized gait of the sitatunga, and thus often loses its balance and falls in water. Males, and even some females, have been observed to leave their herds even before reaching sexual maturity due to intersexual competition. Lifespan recorded in captivity averages 22 to 23 years.
Lesser kudu
The lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) is a medium-sized bushland antelope found in East Africa. The species is a part of the ungulate genus Tragelaphus (family Bovidae), along with several other related species of striped, spiral-horned African bovids.
The lesser kudu’s nose-to-tail length is typically 110–140 cm (43–55 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). Horns are present only on males. The spiral horns are 50–70 cm (20–28 in) long, and have 2-2.5 complete twists.
The lesser kudus have very distinctive physical markings; females and juveniles have a golden-brown coat, with white vertical stripes on their sides, while the males develop into a dark grey colour—after about two years—and grow a pronounced “streak” of shaggy hair down the centre of their backs. Males retain the golden-brown color only on the shins, with the top of each thigh having a darker black band separating it from the grey body. The inner thighs are white.
Males also have distinct black “masks” on their faces, with a black underside going up to the sternum. Males and females both display a series of unique white markings and patches, including white lips, two small spots on both cheeks, a spot at the base of each ear, and two spots between the eyes, white eyelids, a white throat patch, and a patch of white atop the chest. These markings may aid in camouflaging and hiding amidst shrubbery, as well as helping to cool specific areas of the body by being white.
Figure 15: Image of a lesser kudu in Uganda
The lesser kudu is mainly crepuscular, preferring to be active after dusk until the dawn hours, seeking shelter in dense thickets just after the sunrise. The lesser kudu exhibits no territorial behavior, and fights are rare. While females are gregarious, adult males prefer being solitary. No fixed breeding season is seen; births may occur at any time of the year. The lesser kudu inhabits dry bush land regions, bordering on arid grasslands, as well as scrubland and light open forest habitat.
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.
Lesser kudus are gregarious in nature, especially females. No distinct leader or any hierarchy is noted in the social structure; with no territorial behavior, fights are uncommon. While fighting, the lesser kudus interlock horns and try pushing one another. Mutual grooming is hardly observed.
Unlike most tragelaphines, 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.
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 estrus, the male follows her closely, trying to rub his cheek on her rump, head, neck, and chest. He performs gasping movements with his lips. Finally, the male mounts the female, resting his head and neck on her back, in a similar way as other tragelaphines.
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.
Grant’s gazelle
Grant’s gazelle (Nanger granti) is a large, pale gazelle with long horns and legs. They have a distinct rectangular, white shape on the hindquarters and a contrasting black stripe running down the thigh. It’s are closely related and physically similar to Thomson’s gazelle. Its name in Swahili is “swala granti.”
Figure 16: Image of the Grant’s gazelle
Both Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles possess white colouring on the hindquarters, but Grant’s gazelles have more white than Thompson’s gazelles, and Grant’s is paler and has bigger horns than Thompson’s. The young are more darkly coloured than adults.
Males are larger than females and have longer, thicker horns, ranging from 50 to 80 cm. Both have ringed horns, but females have smaller horns (30 to 40 cm) that are thin and symmetrical.
Gazelles are browsers and grazers feeding on various plant parts, including leaves, shoots, fallen flowers and fruits and they are generally drought tolerant species requiring very little water, and they meet their water requirements mainly from the plant parts they consume.
Grant’s gazelles are migratory and move seasonally throughout their range, except in areas with year-round supplies of forage. They migrate in groups, and some groups establish home ranges.
Herds may segregate into groups of bachelor males and females with dominant males. Social rank in this species is organised around males when migrating. The less dominant, younger males are towards the front of the unit, whereas the more dominant males are in the back.
That kind of organization also results in equally matched opponents in fights, as it is more likely that nearby males will display dominance and fight one another. Territorial males mark areas with a combination of faeces and urine, which requires the gazelle to advertise his white rump. As a result of this advertisement, other Grant’s gazelles either show interest or withdraw.
These attractive antelopes show dominance through side-by-side strutting. In strutting alongside other territorial males, a male may express his dominance by raising his neck and tilting his horns slightly. Another way by which Grant’s gazelles show dominance is through fighting. When two males approach each other to fight, they quickly move their heads downwards towards one another as one tries to throw the other off balance, and the fight will prove who has the more powerful neck muscles.
As a form of anti-predatory behaviour, Grant’s gazelle uses alert posture, alarm snorts and stamping as signals of a predator in the vicinity. It avoids water holes, where predators are plentiful, and prey are vulnerable.
Females may resist when a fawn is captured by a predator, cooperating with other females to defend the abducted fawn fiercely. This defense often chases the predator away, leaving the fawn unharmed.
In Uganda you can see grant’s gazelles as you head north towards Karamoja region in Eastern Uganda, after Soroti town in the Pian Upe, Matheniko and Bokora wildlife reserves.
Reed buck
The bohor reedbuck (Redunca redunca) is a sturdily built antelope has a yellow to grayish brown coat. Only the males possess horns which measure about 25–35 cm (9.8–13.8 in) long.
An herbivore, the reedbuck prefers grasses and tender reed shoots with high protein and low fiber content. This reedbuck is dependent on water, though green pastures can fulfill its water requirement. The social structure of the reedbuck is highly flexible. Large aggregations are observed during the dry season, when hundreds of reedbuck assemble near a river.
Males become sexually mature at the age of three to four years, while females can conceive at just one year of age, reproducing every nine to fourteen months. Though there is no fixed breeding season, mating peaks in the rainy season. The gestation period is seven and a half months long, after which a single calf is born. The calves are weaned at eight to nine months of age.
Reedbuck are active throughout the day, seeking cover during the daytime and grazing in the night. A large proportion of the whole day is spent on feeding and vigilance. They can easily camouflage in grasses and reeds, and hide themselves rather than running from danger. When threatened, they usually remain motionless or retreat slowly into cover for defense, but if the threat is close, they flee, whistling shrilly to alert the others. It hides from predators rather than forming herds in defense. Many predators, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs and crocodiles prey on the reedbuck.
Figure 17: Image of an African reedbuck grazing next to a stream of water
If shade is available, females remain solitary; otherwise, they, along with their offspring, congregate to form herds of ten animals. Female home ranges span over 15–40 hectares (37–99 acres; 0.058–0.154 sq mi), while the larger territories of males cover 25–60 hectares (62–148 acres; 0.097–0.232 sq mi). These home ranges keep overlapping. As the daughters grow up, they distance themselves from their mothers’ home ranges. Territorial males are much tolerant; they may even associate with up to 19 bachelor males in the absence of females. As many as five females may be found in a male’s territory.
Territorial bulls drive out their sons when they start developing horns (when they are about a year-and-a-half old). These young males form groups of two to three individuals on the borders of territories, till they themselves mature in their fourth year. Large aggregations are observed during the dry season, when hundreds of reedbuck assemble near a river.
Males become sexually mature at the age of three to four years, while females can conceive at just one year of age, reproducing every nine to fourteen months. Though there is no fixed breeding season, mating peaks in the rainy season. Fights for dominance take place in some particular “assembly fields”, where up to 40 males may assemble in an area of 1 hectare (2.5 acres; 0.0039 sq mi). Some parts of these grounds are the main attractions – marked with dung and urine. The reason behind the attractiveness of these few spots for sexually active males is the estrogen in the females’ urine.
Courtship begins with the dominant male approaching the female, who then assumes a low-head posture and urinates. Unresponsive females run away on being pursued by a male.
A male keep on sniffing the female’s vulva keeps flicking his tongue. As they continue their “mating march”, the male licks the female’s rump and persistently attempts mounting her. On mounting, the males tries to clasp her flanks tightly. If she stands firmly, it is a sign that she is ready to mate. Copulation is marked by a single ejaculation, after which both animals stand motionless or a while, and then resume grazing.
Uganda has only two, with the mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula) restricted to Kidepo Valley grasslands and Bohor reedbuck widespread in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley and Lake Mburo National Parks.
Impala
The impalas are a small grazing antelope with a light reddish-brown coat, paler plants and while belly. They have dark and white rings around the eyes and black vertical stripe either side of the tail with a black stripe. The ears have black lips. The limbs are delicate and there is a black scent on the hind ankles. The impalas feed on vegetation that is grass, leaves, fruit and usually drink at least once a day. They have a lifespan of up to 15 years.
Figure 18: A small herd of Ugandan Impalas taking water
Impala live in the wooded areas browsing and grazing vegetation as they move. Males and females have different social groups. Females from small mobile herds, whilst males tend to have individual territories. They are active in periods throughout the day and night and usually need to drink at least once a day.
They are very agile, but flee in to dense vegetation if attacked. Breeding occurs once a year. Birth occurs in spring and autumn. A single youngsters is born, sexual maturity is reached at 1 year for females, 1.5 for males.
Common duiker
The common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), also known as the gray duiker or bush duiker, is a small antelope and the only member of the genus Sylvicapra. It grows to about 50 cm (20 in) in height and generally weighs 12 to 25 kg (26 to 55 lb); females are generally larger and heavier than the males. Only the male has horns and these can grow to 11 cm (4.3 in) long.
Breeding is year round and the female gives birth to one fawn after a gestation period of 6 to 7.5 months. The common duiker has a wide diet; beyond browsing for leaves, flowers, fruits and tubers, they will also eat insects, frogs, small birds and mammals, and even carrion. As long as they have vegetation to eat (from which they get some water), they can go without drinking for very long periods.
In the rainy season, they will frequently not drink water at all, instead obtaining fluids from fruits. They will often scavenge for these fruits below trees in which monkeys are feeding. They are active both day and night, but become more nocturnal near human settlements, presumably due to the presence of feral dogs and humans.
Figure 19: Image of the Ugandan common duiker
Males are territorial and smear gland secretions on rocks and branches to mark their territories; their preferred resting places are generally on elevated ground, where they can observe their territory. Females, by contrast, prefer deeper cover. The overall success of this species stems from its ability to inhabit a wide variety of habitats, as well as from its adaptable, generalist diet.
Common duiker can be spotted in several national parks in western Uganda, including those in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga, Rwenzori and Queen Elizabeth national parks.
Forest duiker
The striking yellow-backed forest duiker (Cephalophus sylviculter) is also atypical of the family, owing to its relatively large size — heavier than a bushbuck — rather than any habitat preference.
The coat of yellow-backed duikers is black or brown in color with a yellow triangular patch near the tail. This yellow patch typically will not appear until about 1 month of age and will not be completely developed until about 10 months. Males and females resemble each other in appearance, although females are slightly larger. The muzzle area is a light gray color which surrounds their white lips. Both sexes have short, conical horns that grow between 8.5 and 21 centimeters long.
Young yellow-backed duikers are born a dark brown color with spotted flanks and red undersides. These cryptic colors help them remain hidden from predators in the forest.
Figure 20: The Uganda forest duiker enjoying its habitat
Yellow-backed duikers have unique scent glands located posterior to each eye. Unlike other antelope species, these glands secrete from a grouping of pores, not from a solitary large opening. These scent glands are used to mark territorial boundaries. Yellow-backed duikers are built for life in dense vegetation. The body is arched, with short forelegs and longer hind legs for maneuverability.
Forest duikers are one of the largest species of forest duikers, ranging from 45 to 80 kilograms in the wild. The body is 115 to 145 centimeters in length, with a short tail measuring 11 to 18 centimeters. Forest duikers have the largest brain size relative to body size than any other antelope species.
It is spotted in several forests in western Uganda, including those in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga, Rwenzori and Queen Elizabeth national parks; it’s sometimes encountered fleetingly along the forest track leading uphill from the Buhoma headquarters at Bwindi.
Another species is the Harvey’s Forest Red Duiker which is of the more typical duiker species, Harvey’s red duiker (C. harveyi) is a tiny chestnut-brown antelope found in forested parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park and in the Kibale Forest, a blue duiker (C. monticola), even smaller and with a grey-blue coat, is known to occur in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kibale and Bwindi national parks and more other species.
Bete’s pygmy antelope
Not a duiker, but similar in size and favoured habitat, Bates’ Pygmy Antelope (Neofragus batesi) – the second-smallest African ungulate – is a Congolese rainforest species recorded in Semliki National Park and forests within and bordering the southern half of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Bates’ Pygmy Antelope, also known as Bate’s dwarf antelope, is a tiny antelope with skinny, long legs, large eyes, relatively small, flesh-coloured ears and a little tail with a white underside.
Its pelage is fine and soft, reddish or golden-brown and particularly red on the rump; darker brown on the upper back, crown and forehead—sides of face sandy-red; white spots at the base and upper margins of ears. The lower jaw, throat ‘bib’ and chest are white; the underparts and inside of limbs are whitish. Furthermore, this tiny antelope’s lateral hooves are absent or vestigial.
Figure 21: Image of the Bete’s pygmy antelope in the green cover
Female Bates’ pygmy antelope females are marginally larger and heavier than males. Tiny conical horns, in males only, follow the line of the nose and forehead and may be concealed by crest hair.
Bates’ pygmy antelopes have a typical home range of 2 to 4 hectares. Males mark their ranges with secretions from their preorbital glands, leaving black marks on the tips of branches. Females are not as territorial as males and are sometimes found in small groups.
Males emit a nasal call when seeking females, and both sexes often make a short, raspy bark when fleeing.
Bates’s pygmy antelope are active throughout the day and night, with activity peaks around dawn and dusk. The day is typically spent in the dense forest, while foraging in more open habitats occurs at night. This antelope is rarely found far from thick cover, which it uses as a refuge from predators.
When foraging, Bates’s pygmy antelope travels with its head close to the ground, lifting its feet and placing them down carefully. If startled, the initial response is to freeze in position, followed by immediate flight into cover if a threat is detected.
In Uganda Bete’s Pygmy Antelope has been recorded in Semliki National Park and forests within and bordering the southern half of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Klipspringer
The klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus) is a small antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. They are the only species in their genus and tribe.
The klipspringer is a sturdy antelope despite its small size.
The klipspringer’s coat, which ranges from yellowish grey to reddish brown, is a great disguise in the rocky environment where it lives. The klipspringer stands apart from other antelopes due to its thick, coarse coat that is made up of hollow, brittle hairs. Short and sharp, the horns.
The only time the klipspringer is active is at night, when the moon is out. It sleeps during the day. So that it can get its body temperature up, it likes to lie in the sun first thing in the morning. Unlike most other antelopes, the klipspringer is a monogamist. People of different sexes form couples that can last until one of them dies. The pair frequently stay within 5 metres of each other (16 feet) and work together to deal with threats such as predators by taking turns keeping watch while the other feeds.
The klipspringer can hop many metres out of harm’s way. Small family herds of eight or more members and lonely people are some examples of social groups. At gatherings, Klipspringer greet each other by kissing on both cheeks.
Figure 22: Kilpspringer standing on top of the rock to watch aroud for predators
The klipspringer pair’s main way of communicating is by high-pitched whistling back and forth. They do this to talk to each other and scare off predators.
Because of its migratory nature, the klipspringer’s mating season shifts from place to place. Females reach sexual maturity at the age of one, while males take a bit longer. Calves are born in the spring and dry season after a gestation period of roughly six months and weigh just over 1 kilogram (2 pounds). Vegetation thickets are ideal for giving birth and for the first three months of its life, the infant is hidden from potential predators; the mother visits three or four times a day to feed it, and her stays get longer as the baby gets bigger. Males keep an eye out for rival males and any predators to ensure the safety of their young. Once the calf reaches one year of age, it is weaned from its mother and is on its own. The average klipspringer lifespan is 15 years.
For diet, klipspringer is mostly a browser, with a taste for fresh fruits and flowers. Although grasses are a seasonal staple during the wetter months, they make up only a small percentage of the diet overall. Plants like Vellozia may only be sought out during specific times of year. Rather than drinking water, klipspringers get the water they need from the succulent plants they eat. In order to reach high trees, they can stand on their hind legs and jump up to a height of 1.2 metres (3 feet and 11 inches).
In Uganda, koppies, steep ridges, and rocky gorges are the only places you’ll see klipspringers.
They inhabit stony mountains that reach heights of up to 4000 metres. In the same way, klipspringers will walk up to 10 kilometers on fairly flat land between scattered koppies to find food.
The Kidepo Valley and Lake Mburo National Parks are home to the Klipspringer in Uganda.
Guenther’s dik-dik
This small antelope has a dark, soulful, eyes ringed in white. Through glands near their eyes, they can scent-mark their territories, much like the house cat. Females are generally larger, and males have ringed horns often with a tuft of hair that can conceal the horns. They can be distinguished by their elongated snout that is not only fascinating to look at, but has a cooling mechanism to prevent overheating and minimizes their water needs! They can even get most of their water through their diet of fruit, shoots, berries, and foliage.
Therefore, they prefer habitats of edible grasses and shrubs. The shape of their head allows these special animals to eat the leaves between the spikes of Acacia Trees, as well as allow them to keep their heads high and alert while eating. There are four species of dik-dik: Madoqua guntheri (Günther’s dik-dik), Madoqua kirkii (Kirk’s dik-dik), Madoqua piacentinii (Silver dik-dik), and Madoqua saltiana (Salt’s dik-dik).
Figure 23: A Guenther’s dik – dik running to avoid any attack
Small in stature, they fall prey to humans, monitor lizards, eagles, and many carnivores such as leopards, caracals, lions, hyenas, and wild dogs. The dik-dik has learned to deal with its predators not by running away, but by seeking a hiding place. When they feel threatened, or hear the warning calls of others, females can make an alarm call of their own: this is the sound that gave them their name. Although, both males and females can produce a shrill, whistling sound that can alert others of the arrival of a predator. Other adaptations for survival include their spectacular eyesight and ability to run 26 mph! They are small but speedy creatures.
One of the most wholesome facts about this incredible animal’s life history is that they mate for life! Dik-diks will live out their lives in pairs along dry, rocky stream beds in low bush areas, which provide a variety of hiding places.
The dik-dik (or digidigi in swahili) hindquarters are at the same level or higher than the shoulder. Its pelage is soft, with colouration ranging from yellowish grey to reddish brown on the dorsal side and white to greyish on the ventral. They have a short tail (3 to 5 cm long), hairy on the dorsal side and naked on the ventral side.
Guenther’s dik-dik Males have short black horns (up to 9.8 cm long) and are either straight or curved backward from the profile. The ringed horns become more circular towards the tips and are sometimes hidden by a tuft of hair on the forehead.
Their eyes are large and black, and their eyelids and preorbital glands are also black. The ears of Guenther’s dik-diks are large and white on the inside, their legs are slender and long, black hooves pointed anteriorly.
Since the females are larger and do not possess horns, Guenther’s dik-dik is sexually dimorphic. Both sexes have a crest of hair, but the crest of males is typically more brightly colored and longer.
This tiny antelope is found in the dry savannahs around Kidepo Valley National Park, but it’s tough to spot unless you’re quizzically out to find it.
Dik-diks are territorial and mark their boundaries with dung and scent. Fights, particularly among neighboring males, occur along these boundaries, although they are mostly ceremonial and rarely involve physical contact. Females also defend their regions, which is very rare in female antelopes.
Not worrying about water allows dik-diks to live in small territories that remain stable and constant for many years. That gives them an advantage over predators, as dik-diks can use their intimate knowledge of their environments and speed to escape attacks.
Due to the extreme heat, dik-diks are most active in the early morning and evening; they spend the day’s heat resting in the shade. During the day, they stay within their territories; pairs may venture out to find food at night.
Grazing during the coolest parts of the day allows dik-diks to eat leaves when they contain the highest possible amount of water. Because they can extract all the water their bodies need from these water-plump plants, they do not need access to other water sources. When they drink, which is rare, they lap water like a cat.
Because of their short stature, dik-diks are limited in how high they can browse. However, they have learned that they can expand their diet by sticking close to larger animals, such as greater kudus, elephants, and giraffes.
They simply wait for their tall friends to break off branches and leaves. This help is vital during the dry season when dik-diks would otherwise have to rely mainly on fallen leaves and flowers for food.