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Angus AWT#1

The Impala. An Incredible Antelope!

Focus

When observing a herd of Impala on high alert, very rarely will you see any of them looking in the same direction, unless the predator is in the open. This is a classic 'safety in numbers' tactic.


Wow!

The Impala can leap 10 metres... For a small/medium size antelope at around 1.5 metres tall, that's a long way.

They can also run at a top speed of up to 80km/h making them one of the fastest antelope in Africa. This speed is their main defence against predators.


Zulu Name

The name Impala comes from a Zulu word which means antelope.


Herd Types

Impala antelopes typically form three types of herds: nursery herds, bachelor herds, and territorial or mixed-sex herds. Nursery herds consist of females and their offspring, while bachelor herds consist of males. Territorial or mixed-sex herds include both males and females and are often organized around territories defended by dominant males.


Males & Females

Twice as many females than males are born every year.

At the beginning of the wet season, around November, the females will all start to give birth – usually within a few days of each other. This gives the impala calves the best chance at survival, not only because there is plenty of food and water around, but also due to the sheer safety in numbers.

(Tanda Tula blog)


Horns

Male impalas are recognized for their amazing ridged horns that can reach lengths of up to 36 inches. These horns are used in territorial displays and competitions for dominance during the mating season.


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