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Our herd
The majestic greater kudu is Africa's second largest antelope. They
are conspicuously marked with vertical white stripes, and males
have long spiraling horns. Four kudu live in the buffer pasture. This herd
is not currently breeding, but 25 calves have been born at Fossil Rim.
A cattle plague eliminated most of those in east
Africa, but wells and irrigation projects have helped stabilize
their numbers in other parts of the continent. Herds typically include
one to three females and their offspring, but averages may vary
seasonally, being smaller early and late in the dry season and larger
in the rains.
Farmers in areas inhabited by the kudu must take
into account, when building their fences, the animal's ability to
easily leap obstacles 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in height.
How they behave
The kudu at Fossil Rim tend to stick to themselves. You might see
them grooming each other's manes. The bull is tolerant of other
animals, but will become aggressive if pushed. The herd will run
into the brush to hide when threatened or alarmed. We feed them
pelleted food, which they supplement by browsing on local shubbery.
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