Very large antelopes, the male kudu have thick, spiral horns that can reach six feet in length. Sexually dimorphic, only the males have horns and an abundant fringe of hairs from the chin down the neck. Both sexes have 6-10 vertical white stripes on their sides and a white chevron between the eyes and three white spots on the cheek below the eye. They also have exceptionally large, pink ears, which give them excellent hearing. Related to buffalo, kudu engage in social licking, which is rare in antelopes. The tongue is also used for gathering and grasping food.
From May to August is the mating season and males compete for access to female herds. The kudu bull continues to grow his muscular neck and shoulders as well as his horns throughout his life. Dominance is asserted over other bulls by threat displays as well as actual fighting. Combatants are very rarely injured.
Kudu calves are born in tall grass or any other sufficiently dense cover, and remain concealed for about 3 weeks. Daily, the mothers summon their calves with a smacking sound, nurse them and hide them again until they are strong enough to join the female herd. Unlike most other antelope species, kudu have been seen nursing calves other than their own. Calves remain with their mother’s herd for up to 2 years. A typical female herd has less than 12 members.
A greater kudu standing in a thicket will rely on flight to the point of letting a person come within 40’ before giving a loud, sharp alarm bark and fleeing. Alternatively they may try to sneak away from a disturbance. They are very skillful at concealment. The vertical stripes on their sides provide camouflage in their natural habitat along the edges of forests. To run through thick brush, the males lay their horns on their back. The greater kudu has the ability to leap; clearing bushes and fences 8’ high when trying to escape danger.
In the wild the greater kudu only emerges from the forest at night to feed. They are normally active in early morning and evening but become nocturnal in developed areas. |
