12 interesting facts about waterbucks
- Waterbuck is a very good swimmer and takes protection in water to save itself from the clutches of predators.
- The Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is an antelope found in Western, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa.
- The base of the tail of the waterbuck has a large white ‘halo’ or hollow ring making it stand distinguished amongst other mammals. In Defassa waterbuck, the area within the circle is covered with white hair making a leftover patch.
- Waterbuck stand 100 to 130 cm at the shoulder and weigh from 160 to 240 kg.
- The waterbuck is a diurnal mammal i.e. it is most active in the morning followed by afternoon and evening. However, the mammal hardly moves more than half mile in a day.
- Waterbuck are found in scrub and savanna areas near water where they eat grass.
- The male waterbuck has sharp pointed horns that are curved backwards and upwards and are prominently ringed. It also becomes its distinguishing feature as females do not have horns.
- Despite its name, the waterbuck does not spend much time in the water, but will take refuge there to escape predators.
- It is a social animal and lives in a herd of 5 to 30 which is led by an old bull. The males often form a separate independent group of about same size.
- The female leaves the herd and move to the thick cover to give birth to the young one, where it remains hidden for three weeks and is nurtured by its mother.
- The young calf is nursed by its mother for about 6 to 8 months. While the female stays in its mother group after weaning, the male is wandered off to make all male groups.
- The female signals the young child to follow her by raising her tail.
