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Book your LIONSROCK accommodation here.
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Impala
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Scientific name:
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Aepyceros melampus
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Body lengths:
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Males: 1.6 m
Females: 1.55 m
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Weight:
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Males: 47-66 kg
Females: 32-52 kg
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Gestation period:
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6.5 months
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Life expectancy:
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12 years
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Appearance
Rich, glossy, chestnut brown, darker on the back and upper flanks, paler on legs and lower flanks. White on the under parts and buttocks and the underside of the tail. There is a black stripe down the top of the tail, and two black stripes down the buttocks, separating the brown and white areas. Black tufts just above the ankle of the hind legs are unique to this species.
Only males have horns. Females have two pairs of mammae between their hind legs.
Behavior
Mainly active during the day.
During the breeding season, territorial rams are continually active. Lives in herds, usually of about 6-20, aggregating to large groups of 50-100.
Females and young live in breeding herds, which often include a few adult males.
Between July and January adult males live in bachelor herds. Prime males, usually between 4.5-8.5 years old; leave bachelor herds to establish territories of 5-8 ha by the beginning of April, driving other males out of the area.
Reproduction
Gestation period is 7.5 months. Lambs lie hidden for a day or two. Females stay in the herd they were born in, males leave and join bachelor herds after being driven out of a breeding herd by a territorial ram.
Diet
A very selective grazer and browser, including flowers, fruits, pods, bark and fallen leaves, according to the availability of different food types, which changes with season and locality. Grass is preferred.
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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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