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Book your LIONSROCK accommodation here.
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Waterbuck
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Scientific name:
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Kobus ellipsiprymnu
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Average shoulder height:
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Males: 1.3-1.7 m
Females: 1.1 m
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Weight:
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Males: 270 kg
Females: 180 kg
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Gestation period:
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280 days
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Life expectancy:
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11 years
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Appearance
Stockily built, with short legs. Greyish brown, with a white collar high on the throat, white eyebrow stripes, and a distinctive white “lavatory seat” ring on the rump. The coat is very often rough and shaggy and there is a ruff on the underside of the neck. Horns in males only, long and spreading sideways then slightly inwards with a smooth forward curve. Strongly ridged to close to the sharp tips. Mature bulls have a strong, goaty odor. Females have two pairs of mammae between their hind legs.
Behavior
Most active in the early morning and late afternoon; also feeds at night.
Usually in herds of 6-12, sometimes up to 30; herds tend to be bigger in summer. Females and young form nursery herds, mature bulls are territorial, males without territories form bachelor herds.
Bulls first hold territories at 5-6 years old. Territorial bulls have a very strong goaty body odor which taints the meat if the skin is allowed to touch it. Occupation and status are advertised by standing in a proud posture with the neck erect and head up, showing the white band on the throat. Lowering the horns towards an intruder and shaking the head is a stronger threat. Serious fights are fierce and more commonly fatal than in other antelope. Lowering the herd with the horns back against the neck is a sub massive display. Some territorial bulls tolerate the presence of a subordinate male.
Reproduction
Single young (rarely wins) are born throughout the year, possible with peaks in summer; in KwaZulu-Natal births December-July with a Lifespan 11 years. Readily taken by large carnivores. The belief that predators avoid waterbuck because of their odor is not supported by data.
Cows leave the herd to give birth. Calves lie hidden for 3-4 weeks, but if approached they run rather than freezing. Young males transfer to bachelor herds at 9-12 months when horns start to grow. Females stay in the herd they were born in.
Diet
Mainly a grazer, with a preference for long grass; some browsing when grass is low in protein. Prefers long grass.
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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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