12/9/2023 0 Comments Sable antelopeHabitatThey prefer open savannah woodlands or moist vleis, in which they select for medium height, good quality grass cover. Territorial bulls will evict young bulls from breeding groups when they become sexually mature at the age of three years. During the calving season small groups with pregnant cows separate from larger groups consisting of young and non-breeding animals.ĭuring late winter large herds congregate on bunt areas or moist vleis. This is a gregarious antelope, showing great variation in herd sizes. Sable are most active during early mornings and late afternoons, and drink water at mid-day. Calves show an interest in grass at an early stage, and are fully weaned at eight months. After a gestation period of 270 days they give birth to single calves weighing 17 Kg at birth.Ĭalves are hidden in tall grass for the first two weeks, during which time they are visited by their mothers for suckling and grooming. A fair amount of bones of carcasses left in the veld, are chewed to counter phosphorous deficiencies.Ĭows first become sexually receptive at the age of three years, and would drop their first calves at the age of three years. The bluebuck was sometimes considered a subspecies of the roan. It was smaller than the other two species in its genus Hippotragus, the roan antelope and sable antelope. This is a grazer of climax vegetation, which crops grass at a relatively high level off the ground. The bluebuck ( Afrikaans: bloubok / blabk /) or blue antelope ( Hippotragus leucophaeus) is an extinct species of antelope that lived in South Africa until around 1800. A variety of sedges are also taken around water points. Female sable are especially aggressive and, as a result, there is a female hierarchy system based on seniority. By using their horns and sharp, pointed hooves, they can gravely wound both predators and other sable. They favour speargrass, red grass and various species of Brachiaria, Urochloa and Panicum. Sable antelope are known for their ability to defend themselves from predators like lions. Sable Antelope DietTheir diet consists predominantly of grass. The horn of young become visible at the age of two months. Ears are brick red at the back and shorter than that of the roan antelope. Horns on females are shorter and slimmer. The scimitar-shaped horns of mature bulls can be up to 1.2 m in length. They are specialized browsing animals and feed upon foliage, leaves, medium-length grass. Tips of horns are smooth and sharp pointed. Sable antelope are herbivorous (folivorous, graminivorous) animals. Angola’s magnificent giant sable antelope, long thought wiped out in the country’s decades-long civil war, was rediscovered in 2004. Both sexes have long horns, which are ridged, and which curve backwards. The shoulder height of bulls is 1.4 m, which weigh up to 270 Kg.Ĭows are slightly smaller. Both sexes have stiff black manes along the dorsal aspects of their necks. Sable Antelope are characterised by glossy black coats with white under parts and white facial markings. The Sable Antelope is a large and handsome antelope.
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