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Book your LIONSROCK accommodation here.
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Red Hartebeest
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Scientific name:
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Alcelaphus buselaphus
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Average shoulder height:
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Males: 1.3 m
Females: 1.25 m
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Weight:
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Males: 152 kg
Females: 120 kg
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Gestation period:
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8 months
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Life expectancy:
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15-16 years
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Appearance
Colour varies from rich reddish brown to yellowish fawn, with a darker saddle from the shoulders to the base, broadening out over the rump. The saddle is more distinct in males. The top of the shoulders, continuing down onto the forelegs, and black high on the hind legs. All the black markings are glossy and iridescent. The rump is pale yellow or off white(same colour as body in tsessebe). There is a brush of longer, black hair on the tail. The preorbital glands are well developed and open onto a black patch just in front of the eyes. The head is narrow, its length exaggerated by the bony pedicel from which the horns rise straight up, flare outwards and forwards and then bend sharply backwards. Both sexes have horns, heavily ridged almost to the tips.There is a distinct hump on the shoulders, and the outline of the back slopes down to the rump. Females have one pair of mammae between their hind legs. Males are taller than females, more richly coloured and more distinctly marked, with much thicker horns.
Behavior
Most active in the early morning and late afternoon. Rests in shade in the summer, in the open in the winter, but is heat tolerant and can graze all day if necessary.
Forms small herds of up to 20.
A fast runner, reaching speeds of 60-70 km/h; stots in stiff-legged zig-zags. Calves that cannot keep up with a fleeing herd drop flat on the ground in an attempt to avoid detection.
Females leave the herd to give birth. A newborn calf lies hidden in tall grass while its mother grazes; she returns at intervals to clean and suckle it.
Reproduction
Mating is triggered by short day length. In the northwest Free State and Botswana, mating March-April with 80% of births in October-November. In the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, mating peaks in February, births peak in October. In the southern Kalahari, mating January-March, births August-October. Gestation 8 months. Begins grazing at 2 weeks; weaned at 7-8 months. Cows first calve at three years. Breeds annually.
Diet
A selective grazer and browser.
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Bank account name:
LIONSROCK PARK
Bank and Code:
First National Bank - South Africa FNB-230133
Account No: 62165825583
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