Kudu is a kind of a antelope. There are two types of kudus: Lesser Kudu and Greater Kudu. The two of them live in zones described by thick shrubberies or in the backwoods. Kudu can be found in eastern and southern pieces of the Africa. Albeit neighborhood individuals chase them for their meat and horns (which are utilized as music instruments, holders for nectar or as an image of the male power), they are not recorded as imperiled species.
Greater kudus are one of the largest antelopes.
Kudus usually reach 4 to 5 feet in height. Males are larger than females: they have 495 to 787 pounds, while females have 396 to 517 pounds.
They produce one of the loudest sounds made by antelope in the form of a gruff bark.
Kudu is easily recognized by its long, spiral horns. They can reach 72 inches in length, making 2 ½ twists.
Kudu horns have spirals, which allow males to spar by interlocking horns.
Both species of the kudu have white lateral stripes and spots on their body. They can be bluish gray, grayish brown or colored like rust. Also, both species have mane on a dorsal (back) side of the body, which follows the line of the spine.
Some reports show male kudus found with locked horns, even in death.
Characteristic coloration of their body provides protection against the predators. When kudu sense a danger, it becomes motionless. Its body color blends with the environment and predators cannot recognize it easily.
Adult kudus are an important food source for many larger predators, such as lions and spotted hyenas.
Kudus are hunted by lions, leopards and wild dogs. Cheetah, pythons, eagles and smaller wild cats often prey on young kudus.
The greater kudu is much sought after by hunters, both for the magnificent horns of bulls and more generally for their high-quality meat.
Besides predators and humans, kudus are susceptible to the rinderpest virus, which eliminated large number of kudus during several epidemics in the past.
Kudus are one of the most commonly hunted species in southern Africa and generate the highest proportion (13.2%) of hunting income in South Africa.
Kudu is herbivorous animal (eats only plants) which consumes mainly grass, roots, leaves, fruits and tubers.
Kudus are highly alert and notoriously hard to approach.
Kudu can survive long period without water. Part of the moisture can be compensated by the food rich in water, such as wild melon.
The common name kudu is derived from the indigenous Khoikhoi language of Southern Africa.
Kudu is one of the loudest antelopes. It produces gruff like barking sound which is used for communication.
The scientific name is derived from Greek: Tragos denotes a he-goat and elaphos a deer; Strephis means ‘twisting’ and Keras means ‘horn’.
1Male kudus usually live solitary life or rarely form bachelor groups that travel together. Dominance in the group is established via fight. It may end up fatally for both participants if their horns lock together, preventing kudus to separate from each other. Dominance can be displayed by positioning the body sideways (body looks bigger) in front of the other males.
The horns do not begin to grow until the bull reaches 6–12 months, twisting once at around two-years-of-age and not reaching the full two-and-a-half twists until the age of six.
Females live in the small groups composed of adult females and their offspring. Groups usually have between six and ten members.
Male kudus are rarely physically aggressive but may spar during the courtship season, shoving one another with their horns.
Mating season starts at the end of the rainy season. Pregnancy lasts eight months and ends with a single baby.
The traditional sport of Kudu dung-spitting (Bokdrol Spoeg in Afrikaans) is practiced in the South African Afrikaner community.
Female leaves the group and isolate herself and the baby for the next couple of months.
With only 118,000 kudus remaining in the wild, kudus have a ‘near threatened conservation status’ according to the African Wildlife Foundation.
First four or five weeks of the life, young kudu spends lying in the grass. After that, calf starts to follow its mother during short period of time each day. At the age of three to four months, young kudu follows its mother all the time. When calf becomes able to follow its mother constantly, they will return back to the herd.
Local people use their horns in rituals, to store honey or to make instruments out of them.
Young kudus grow rapidly, and they are able to take care of themselves as soon as they turn six months.
Greater kudu can be spotted in most southern African parks.
Kudu lives 7 to 8 years in the wild and up to 23 years in the captivity.
Kudu FAQs
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about kudu antelopes:
1. What is a kudu?
There are two main species of kudu: the greater kudu and the lesser kudu. Both are spiral-horned antelopes found in Africa.
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Greater kudu: The larger and more well-known species, easily recognized by their impressive, long, corkscrew-shaped horns that can grow up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) in length! They are tawny-colored with vertical white stripes and a white chevron between the eyes. Males are significantly bigger than females, reaching weights of up to 357 kg (787 lbs). Greater kudus are browsers, feeding on leaves, shoots, fruits, and flowers.
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Lesser kudu: Smaller and less common than their greater cousins. They stand around 90 centimeters tall at the shoulder and have shorter, straighter horns. Their coat is typically a reddish-brown color with spots and stripes. They are also browsers but can survive longer without water than greater kudus.
2. Where do kudus live?
Kudus are native to sub-Saharan Africa, inhabiting woodlands, savannas, and mountainous areas. They prefer areas with some thicket cover for hiding and prefer to stay close to water sources, especially during dry seasons.
3. What do kudus eat?
Kudus are primarily browsers, meaning they get their food by eating leaves, shoots, fruits, and flowers from trees and shrubs. They can also graze on grass when it’s available. Interestingly, kudus can survive for extended periods without drinking free-standing water. They obtain moisture from the plants they eat and by licking up morning dew. However, they will readily drink water when it’s available, especially during dry seasons.
4. Are kudus social animals?
Kudus are generally not very social animals. Females tend to live in small herds of around 6-10 individuals, usually consisting of mothers and their young. Males are mostly solitary creatures, only coming together with females during mating season.
5. What are some interesting facts about kudus?
- Spiral horns: Male kudus have the longest horns of any antelope, with those impressive spirals used for fighting other males over territory and mating rights. These fights involve interlocking horns and pushing matches until one opponent is defeated.
- Loud calls: Kudus can produce one of the loudest sounds among antelopes, a loud, gruff bark used for communication between herd members.
- Throat mane: Greater kudus have a distinctive throat mane that lesser kudus lack.
- Water conservation: As mentioned earlier, kudus are very good at conserving water. They can extract moisture from their food and lick up dew to stay hydrated.
6. Are kudus endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the greater kudu as “Least Concern” due to their widespread population. However, lesser kudus are classified as “Near Threatened” due to habitat loss and hunting pressures. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensure the survival of both kudu species.
