Tragelaphus angasii
The graceful nyala is one of our favourite antelope, and a close relative of the kudu. They occur naturally in the south-east corner of Africa, ranging from Malawi to South Africa’s eastern provinces.
To the uninitiated, the adult bulls in their dark, shaggy, coats and the ewes dressed in bright chestnut seem to be from two different species altogether. Bulls are almost double the size of the ewes, and can weigh up to 130kg.
Nyalas inhabit thickets and woodland near water, and will often forage in adjacent clearings. They’re mixed feeders, subsisting on a diet of leaves, succulent shoots and short grass.
Being social animals, nyalas occur in small groups consisting mostly of adult females and their offspring, with adult males tending to form bachelor groups. Lambs are born at any time of the year, though mostly in the wetter summer months.
The stiff-legged dominance display – you could even call it a dance! – of the adult bulls is one of nature’s most intriguing spectacles.
The bulls also have the curious habit of horning the ground at mud puddles, carrying the caked mud off with them on their headdress…
The IUCN consider the nyala’s conservation status to be of “least concern“, with a population of at least 32,000. The best places in South Africa to see these graceful antelope is the Kruger National Park (especially at Pafuri in the far north of the Park), Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, uMkhuze Game Reserve, and Tembe Elephant Park, though they occur in a number of other state and private reserves as well.
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Julle leer my dinne wat ek noot geweet het nie!! Dankie!! 😀
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Ons waardeer jou gawe woorde, dankie AJ!
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Such unusual and beautiful creatures. Great info! 🙂
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Thanks for your interest Linda!
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Fascinating stuff, and beautiful photos, as always.
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Thanks a lot Jenny!
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How lucky are South-Africans to have such beautiful animals.
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We couldn’t agree more! Welcome here to de Wets Wild!
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Thank you and I cant wait for more pictures with wild animals
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How wonderful to see 32,000 animal in one conservation! These animals are gorgeous through you lens.
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Thanks Amy! Nyalas really are very handsome animals!
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Hul is tog maar redelik skugter as ek reg onthou. Mens het hul nie sommer gesien nie.(dis natuurlik jare gelede wat ek nou aan dink- was in 2003 laas in Kruger Wildtuin) Is hul nou meer sigbaar omdat daar meer van hulle is, of hoe?
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Met die dat ons nou n paar jaar se goeie reens gehad het het die njala bevolkings goed aangewas Ineke. Hulle sukkel mos maar in die droee tye. En ek dink met die dat die Noorde van die Krugerwildtuin nou meer besoekers ontvang raak hulle die menslike teenwoordigheid meer gewoond. Daar bo by Pafuri is die njalas regtig meer talryk as die rooibokkies op die stadium.
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Dis wonderlike nuus dat hul kan floreer. Hul is n besonderse bok
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Regtig een van ons gunstelinge Ineke!
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Great post…
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Thanks a lot Bulldog!
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Me too… enjoy the photos and the lesson. Thanks.
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Thank you very much Helen!
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they are beautiful animals!
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Absolutely 😀
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What beautiful animals and lovely photos.
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Easy to get good photos when the subjects are this beautiful, thanks Imelda!
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Not only did I enjoy the beautiful photos, but I learned about a new animal too. Thanks.
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Thank you for spending some more of your time with us Patti!
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