Wildebeest

  

The Life of Animals | Wildebeest | Zebras and wildebeest group together in the open savannah environments  there is a high chance of predation. Wildebeest can also listen in on the alarm calls of other species, and by doing so can Their Reduced risk of predation. One study showed That along with other ungulates, wildebeests responded more strongly to the baboon alarm calls compared to the baboon contest calls even though Both types of calls Had similar patterns, amplitudes, and durations.

The wildebeest season and is Called During this time the males Establish temporary territories and try to attract females. These small territories are about 3000 square meters, with up to 300 territories in a square kilometer. The males entice females into Their territories with grunts and distinctive antics. Wildebeest usually breed at the end of the rainy season the animals are most fit. Wildebeest females spontaneously ovulate and breed seasonally. Groups of wildebeest females and young live in the small areas established by the male. When groups of wildebeest join together, there is a larger female to male ratio as the females flock to the areas held by Fewer males.

Higher male mortality has been attributed to illegal hunting.Due to Their confinement in small areas in South Africa, the two species of wildebeest, the black wildebeest and the blue wildebeest have interbred, resulting in fertile hybrid young. The most acute threat comes from migration barriers, Such as fences and roads. In one of the more striking examples of the Consequences of fence-building on terrestrial Migrations, Botswanan authorities placed Thousands of kilometers of fences across the Kalahari That prevented from Reaching wildebeests grazing grounds and watering holes, resulting in the Deaths of TENS of Thousands of individuals , and dropping the wildebeest population to less than ten percent of its previous size.

In Addition to roads and fences, illegal hunting is a major conservation concern in many areas. Other Ecosystems are experiencing similar pressures, Such as the Tarangire Ecosystem in Tanzania Historically the which supported large numbers of migratory wildebeest (as well as other species), but has recently Declined in number, coincident with illegal hunting and land-use changes across the rainy season ranges. Although the majority of wildebeest Populations migrate, some do not migrate and Populations Appear to never have done so in recorded history. Such Populations can be found in the Ngorongoro Crater, the Masai Mara, Lake Manyara National Park, Selous Game Reserve, and Hwange National Parks and Esotha.

Kudu

 

  

The Life of Animals | Kudu | Like many other antelope, male kudu can be found in bachelor groups, but They are more Likely to be solitary. Sometimes two males are competing Unable to unlock Their horns and, if Unable to Disengage, Will die of starvation or dehydration. Males are seen with females only in the season, They join in groups of 5-15 saints, including offspring. Calves grow very Quickly and at six months are fairly independent of Their mothers.

Then the calf will from start meeting its mother for short periods. Wounded bulls have been known to charge the attacker, hitting the attacker with horn Sturdy Their base rather than stabbing it. Many predators, Such as the big cats, wild dogs, hyenas and pythons hunt kudu and Their Young. Kudu numbers are also affected by Them for Their Humans hunting meat, hides and horns, or using Their habitats for charcoal burning and farming.

Ghost were the resource persons highly susceptible to the rinderpest virus (now eradicated after a vaccination program in domestic cattle), and many Scientists think recurring epidemics of the disease reduced kudu Populations in East Africa. Holy are highly susceptible to rabies in times of extended Drought.  Infected animals Appear TAME and have a distinct frothing at the mouth.

A kudu horn is a musical instrument made from the horn of the kudu antelope. Mostly it is seen in the Western world in its use as a part of the Scouting movement's Wood Badge training program which, blown, signals the start of a Wood Badge training course or activity. A horn of this shape, used by soccer fans, is Called kuduzela (compare with vuvuzela).

Bongo

 

The Life of Animals | Bongo | Bongos are found in dense tropical jungles with dense undergrowth up to an altitude of 4.000 meters (12.800 ft) in Central Africa, with Isolated Populations in Kenya, and the following West African countries Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya

Historically, bongos Occurred in three disjunct parts of Africa: East, Central and West. Bongos favour disturbed forest mosaics That Provide fresh, low-level green vegetation. Mass bamboo die-off provides an ideal habitat in East Africa. The bongo sports a bright auburn or chestnut coat, with the neck, chest and legs Generally Darker Than the rest of the body. Coats of male bongos Become Darker and buffy as They Age until They reach a dark mahogany-brown color. Coats of female bongos are usually more brightly colored than Those of males. The smooth coat is marked with 10-15 vertical white-yellow stripes, spread along the back from the base of the neck to the rump. A white chevron Appears the between the eyes and two large white spots grace each cheek. The large ears are to sharpen hearing, and the distinctive coloration may help bongos identify one another in Their dark forest habitats. The lips of a bongo are white, topped with a black muzzle.

Like other forest ungulates, bongos are seldom seen in large groups. Males, Called bulls, growing niche to be solitary while groups of females with young live in groups of 6 to 8. Bongos have seldom been seen in herds of more than 20. Sexual maturity is reached at 24-27 months. As young males mature and leave Their maternal groups They Often Remain most solitary, although rarely They join-up with an older male. Adult males of similar size / age growing niche to avoid one another.

When in distress the bongo emits a bleat. It uses a limited number of vocalisations, Mostly grunts and snorts while females have a weak mooing contact-call for Their young. The calves grow rapidly and can soon accompany Their mothers in the nursery herds. In 2002 the IUCN listed the western / Lowland species as Near Threatened. This may mean bongos That may be endangered due to human environmental interaction as well as hunting and illegal actions Towards wildlife. CITES lists bongo as an Appendix III species, only regulating Their exportation from a single country, Ghana. The IUCN Antelope Specialist Group considers the western or Lowland bongo, T. eurycerus, to be Lower Risk (Near Threatened), and the eastern or mountain bongo, T. e. isaaci, of Kenya to be Critically Endangered.

Antelope

  

The Life of Animals | Antelope | Most species of antelope are native to Africa, but some occur in Asia. The Arabian Peninsula is home to the Arabian Oryx and Dorcas Gazelle. India is home to the Nilgai, Chinkara, Blackbuck and, while Russia and Central Asia have the Four-Horned Antelope, Tibetan antelope, and Saiga Antelope. Many species of antelope have been imported to other parts of the world, ESPECIALLY the United States, for exotic game hunting. Antelope exist in a wide range of habitats.

Species of forest, Woodland, or bush growing niche to be sedentary, but many of the plains species undertake huge Migrations. Antelope are Often classified by Their reproductive behavior. Small antelope, dik-diks Such as, growing niche to be monogamous. Often Larger forest species form very small herds of 2-4 females and 1 male. Such as some species of lechwe pursue a lek breeding system.

Large grazing antelope, impala Such as wildebeest or form large herds made up of many females and a single breeding male, the which excludes all other males, Often by combat. Antelope pursue a number of defense strategies, Often dictated by Their morphology. Large antelope That gather in large herds, Such as wildebeest RELY on numbers and running speed for protection. In some species, adults around the circle will of offspring, protecting from predators Threatened Them. Many forest antelope RELY on cryptic coloring and good hearing to avoid predators. Often forest antelope have very large ears and a dark or striped coloration. Small antelope, ESPECIALLY duikers, evade predation by jumping into the dense bush where predators can not pursue.

Open Grassland species have nowhere to hide from predators so They growing niche to be fast runners. Reaction distances Vary with predator species and predator behavior. It is Difficult to determine how long antelope live in the wild. With the preference of predators Towards the which the old and infirm individuals can no longer sustain peak speeds, Few wild prey-animals live as long as Their biological potential. In the wild, Few individuals of prey species live to old age, as the old and weak are Easier prey for predators; antelopes are no exception to this rule. The antelope's horn is prized for medicinal and magical powers in many places.