These horns are used in battles to decide dominance and hierarchy within a group.īulls thrash their horns in the air, demonstrating the weapons at their disposal. Look closely at the horns and you will notice they have a peculiar yellow tip – researchers still don’t know why, perhaps it’s just for aesthetics. It’s only when they reach full maturity that these horns develop the trademark double twist. The groups wander around and don’t attempt to protect an area from others. Nyala don’t have clearly defined territories either. They certainly shy away from strong social bonds. A non-territorial antelopeĭoes this nomadic behaviour mean that nyala are social or not? Males become solitary as they grow older, as they are fended away from joining new groups. A larger bull butts in and kicks out another bull.Īt the same time, the dominant bull will happily allow other bulls to be in its group, as long as they remain submissive.Ī mother maintains a strong bond with her two youngest calves, but she loses touch with older offspring. Although herds can reach up to 30 individuals, they usually live in loose groups of four to eight animals.Īll these groups are temporary. They are the nomads of the antelope world. For example, impala and buffalo live in harems, the females and calves with one dominant male, then all the bachelors in smaller groups. Many of Africa’s mammals have clearly defined social structures. It’s believed that juvenile males first develop a coat that can disguise them as females, therefore avoiding any jealous behaviour from larger bulls. Males start to lose their stripes from the age of 10 to 12. Each nyala has more than ten of these vertical stripes and these are the best feature for distinguishing nyala from kudu.įemales keep their stripes until old age. Photogenic white stripesįemales and young males are memorable for their striking white stripes. They are also hunted by packs of wild dogs in the Okavango Delta and northern Botswana. Nyala are perfect for leopards, who also live in the trees. Mostly it is bachelor lion prides who will go after them, rather than larger prides. In general they are a little small for a lion, especially given how hard they are to locate and catch. They need this warning call because nyala are on the dinner menu for the three most impressive African predators. It warns others in the group and also gives a warning to baboons and monkeys. The sharp, high-pitched sound is almost like a barking dog. Nyala look out for each other and when any nyala spots danger, it gives off a striking alarm call. They sense danger using their exceptional hearing and smell, as well as by sight. Nyala are one of Africa’s most alert antelope. They can also react to any alarm call made by primates higher in the trees.īut what do the monkeys get out of this relationship? 5. The antelope eat all the fruit that is dropped by their primate friends. Nyala have developed a special bond with baboons and vervet monkeys, their fellow residents in the trees. During the hot and wet summer they stay in the forest all day, only coming out after dark. They will only emerge in the morning or afternoon to feed on reeds and grasses. Nyala are experts at hide and seek and usually live deep within a woodland or forest. Their defense against predators is their camouflage. Such diverse eating habits help them survive in all sorts of forests and savannahs. They also strip bark off different trees and will happily graze on grass as well, especially newly sprouted grass. Most of their food comes from browsing broad-leaved plants. Grazers…and browsersĪ varied diet has helped nyala become widespread across Southern Africa. They weigh up to 125 kg, although that still doesn’t make them one of the 10 largest antelope species in Africa. Standing 110 cm at the shoulder, big nyala bulls appear even bigger due to their horns. The females are relatively small, weighing between 55-68 kg (121-150 lbs) by adulthood. Nyala are the most sexually dimorphic antelope in the world. You’ll discover that this is one of Africa’s most unusual and magnificent species. Here are 16 incredible facts about the nyala. It’s rare that they come out into the open and you must search patiently to see one in the wild – which only makes the sighting even more special. A shabby and furry undercoat is painted in shocks of white. Double twisted horns rise majestic and proud. Striking vertical stripes run white down shimmering chestnut fur. Spot a nyala in the wild and you will always remember the sighting.
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