Tag Archives: Greater Kudu

Front row seats for an epic battle!

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One of the most exciting sightings (and we had many!) of our Satara Summer was this epic battle between two big Kudu bulls, encountered near the Kruger National Park‘s Nhlanguleni picnic site. At times the fight was so heated that we were sure one of them was going to break the other’s neck or stab a hole straight through his adversary. After several minutes the fight ended abruptly when they found themselves in thicker vegetation and one of the combatants threw in the towel.

Kudu bulls in serious fight
Kudu bulls in serious fight
Kudu bulls fighting
Kudu bulls in serious fight
Kudu bulls fighting (photo by Joubert)
Kudu bulls in serious fight
Kudu bulls in serious fight
Kudu bulls in serious fight
Kudu bulls fighting (photo by Joubert)
Kudu bulls fighting (photo by Joubert)
Kudu bulls in serious fight (photo by Joubert)
Kudu bulls fighting
Kudu bulls in serious fight
Kudu bulls in serious fight
Kudu bulls fighting (photo by Joubert)
Moving into denser vegetation, the fight soos came to an end
Magnificent Kudu seen near Mavumbye

Greater Kudu

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Tragelaphus strepsiceros

The striking kudu is one of the largest, and according to many nature lovers one of the most beautiful, of South Africa’s antelope.

Kudu bull
Kudu cow
Kudu bull
Kudu
Young kudu
Kudu bull
Magnificent Kudu seen near Mavumbye
Greater Kudu
Kudu cow
Kudu Bull
Kudu bull
Kudu calf
Young Kudu bull
Kudu bull (Photo by Joubert)
Kudu bull
Kudu bull
Kudu bull

Weighing up to 315kg and standing up to 1.6m high at the shoulder, kudu bulls are considerably bigger than the cows.

 

Subadult kudu bull
Kudu bull
Subadult kudu bull
Kudu bull
Kudu bull
Kudu bull
Kudu bull
Subadult kudu bull
Kudu bull
Subadult kudu bull
Alert kudu cow
Impressive kudu bull
Older kudu
Kudu bull
Kudu bull
Kudu female
Kudu family
Kudu near Charters Creek
Kudu bull with an oxpecker irritation
Sleepy kudu
Frightened kudu
Kudu crossing the road
Kudu
Kudu
Kudu
Kudu Bull
Kudu

Adult bulls are solitary or move around in bachelor groups, associating with the herds of cows and their calves only during the rutting season. Though the bulls are not territorial, they do maintain a strict dominance hierarchy through fighting, sometimes leading to the death of one or both combatants through injuries or having their horns inextricably interlocked.

Kudu cow
Kudu bull
Juvenile Kudu
Majestic Kudu Bull
Kudu cow close-up
Kudu calf
Immature Kudu Bull at Biyamiti Weir
Big Kudu Bull
Big Kudu Bull
Mating Kudus
Graceful Kudu bull (photo by Joubert)
Young Kudu bull
Kudu bull
Magnificent Kudu bull

Kudu inhabit a variety of bush- and shrubland habitats, and, being browsers, subsists on an extremely wide variety of leafy vegetation, being particularly fond of the thorny Acacias. While they can survive for extended periods without water, they will drink daily if it is available.

Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Kudu cow
Kudu family caught in the rain
Kudu cow
Kudu cows drinking
Kudu herd on the move
Kudu close-up
Two kudu bulls in the bed of the Letaba
Kudu and impala at Renosterkoppies
Kudu herd
Kudu
Kudu
Kudu bull
Kudu herd

In South Africa, most calves are born in the summer months between December and March. Newborn calves are kept hidden in thick vegetation for up to three months after birth, with the cows returning to them every couple of hours to nurse. They can live to the age of 18, but being a favourite prey item for all Africa’s large predators as well as being prone to drought and cold conditions, and susceptible to a range of diseases, few kudus wil reach that age in the wild.

Kudu calf
Kudu calf
Kudu calf
Kudus
Kudu bachelors
Kudu cow and calves
Young kudu bull
Kudu calves
Kudu Calf
Kudu bulls in serious fight (photo by Joubert)
Kudu bulls fighting
Kudu at sunset
Beautiful Kudu bull
Beautiful kudu bull
Kudu cows
Kudu before sunrise

Kudus occur widely across South Africa, both in and outside of formal conservation areas, and are still relatively numerous. The IUCN regards their conservation status to be of “least concern”, estimating the total population to stand at almost 500,000 individuals.

Kudu herd
Kudu herd
Kudu herd
Young Kudu bull

(We had such an overwhelming response to our kudu photo submitted in the “Twist” photo challenge, that we thought we’d do well to dedicate a special post to these grand animals)