— Graceful nyala antelope The graceful nyala antelope inhabiting the savannas of Southeast Africa is pu. Mountain nyala. Photo, video What do antelopes eat?

A majestic animal strides steadily across hot savannas and steppes. The antelope is famous not only for its stunning appearance and grace, but also for its lightning-fast reaction and speed, which allows them to immediately hide at the first sign of danger. When mentioning these animals, every person will certainly imagine how a large African antelope with long horns stands warily under the rays of the hot sun. But not everyone realizes how different representatives of a large and confused group can be. This is due primarily to the fact that their classification is unstable and does not have a clear structure. Antelopes include all bovids that are not included in other genera, families and subfamilies. Currently, there are more than 100 species of these animals.

Antelopes have adapted well to a wide variety of climatic conditions. If you look at the habitat of these animals, you can say with confidence that they are literally scattered across the planet.

Many are accustomed to the fact that horned beauties are found only in the savannas of Africa. This misconception may have arisen due to the fact that the overwhelming number of species of the bovid group live on this continent. However, some species of antelope are found in the steppes of Central Asia, Europe (Caucasus, Alps), India, North and South America.

The antelope usually lives in places with a hot, dry climate, where all kinds of grasses grow well. Animals feel great in deserts, semi-deserts and steppes. An open area allows herbivores to notice a sneaking predator in time and quickly escape to a safe distance. Among them are the famous antelopes from Africa: wildebeest, great kudu, nimble gazelles of Thompson and Speke, impalas. The steppe antelope, saiga, lives in the semi-deserts of Central Asia. The deserts of Arabia are home to the rare oryx.

Another group of graceful bovids chose the forests. The eland, which looks like a strange mixture of a bull and a goat, adapts well to both forests and mountains. Often living in dense thickets, bovids are somewhat reminiscent of deer. Nyala from Africa almost never leaves the dense forest. Tiny babies are hiding in the thickets: dik-dik and duiker.

The bravest animals have mastered the mountainous areas. Some African antelopes, such as sass (or klipspringers) are considered the best jumpers in your group. With the smallest supporting area of ​​their legs among artiodactyls, these babies are able to overcome chasms without problems and cheerfully jump along the steepest slopes. Caucasian and Alpine chamois mainly live on snowy mountain peaks, only descending into the forests in severe winter.

Some groups chose places near swamps and ponds. Antelope from Africa strange name“Kob” are attached to permanent rivers and feed on vegetation growing on the banks and at the bottom. This graceful animal lives not far from the harsh Sahara. In open forests with a large number of reservoirs there lives a not at all large antelope - the redunka, or nagor.

Due to human activities, the habitats of some antelope species have significantly decreased. Pollution of water bodies, construction of cities and Agriculture push artiodactyls out of their natural habitat.

What do antelopes look like?

About the horns

The name “antelope” itself is translated from Greek as “horned animal”. Indeed, each species of this large interesting group can boast of its own special crown.

If you look at the representatives of all families, you will notice that their horns are completely different. They differ not only in diameter, but also in length (from 2 cm to 1.5 m), color and shape. This bone formation, unlike the antlers of deer and pronghorn, is firmly connected to the skull and does not branch.

The most unusual and beautiful crown is considered to be the crown of the vintohorns. It has an interesting, spiral shape. Unfortunately, it was precisely because of this that the great kudu, an African antelope with long horns (more than a meter), strongly twisted in a corkscrew, found itself on the verge of extinction. The species is now under protection.

The great kudu from Africa has the longest horns in the world, usually reaching a length of one to one and a half meters (the record is 1.8 m).

Waterbucks living near permanent bodies of water have lyre-shaped (double-curved) horns. Their crown is usually large (in different types from 50 to 90 cm). Only the secretive common rednecks have straight (slightly curved to the sides) and small (slightly more than 20 cm) horns.

Peleia, or roe deer, is the only representative of the roe deer antelope genus. These small, graceful animals from Africa, weighing about 20 kg, have short, straight, but sharp and durable horns, allowing them to defend themselves from predators.

Representatives of the saber-horned subfamily, which in appearance resemble strange horses, are endowed with very long horns. The shape and thickness of different genera are different: addaxes have wide and twisted horns, horse antelopes have horns strongly curled back in the form of a semicircle, oryxes have thin, straight or slightly curved horns of very long length.

Cow antelopes are one of the most major representatives of your group. The bubala received its second name because of its elongated skull, slightly reminiscent of a bull’s head. One of the characteristics of these large artiodactyls from Africa is that both males and females have short, curved horns.

Gazelles are miniature owners of a straight or slightly curved crown. This antelope from the Asian steppes and Africa is very fast, and its thin, light horns do not interfere with its running.

Impalas boast some of the most beautiful head decorations. This African antelope with long horns (about a meter) curved in a wedge proudly wears a “V”-shaped crown.

But baby duikers are considered the most modest. Their straight horns do not exceed 10 cm in length.

About physique

All antelopes are very strong and hardy animals. However, the structure and texture of their body is also different, depending on their habitat.

Thus, the wildebeest from hot Africa has slender long legs, powerful enough to cover long distances. The body is large with a small hump behind the back. The powerful neck is covered with a kind of “mane”. And the head resembles a cow's. It seems that the wildebeest was assembled from parts of different animals.

Gazelles are very thin and graceful. These artiodactyls have a long flexible neck, which allows them to quickly look around and get leaves from trees. Due to their rather small size, gazelles become prey for many predators. The beauties need to reach the highest possible speed in order to survive. Thin but strong legs allow gazelles to jump high, accelerating and maneuvering.

The saiga antelope has an unusual adaptation. In the conditions of the dusty steppe, his unusual nose hanging down on his lower lip becomes simply necessary. Inside the proboscis, the cavities are covered with mucous glands that trap particles of sand and other debris.

And the giraffe gazelle from Africa also has an unusual appearance, completely consistent with its name. The long neck of the animal allows it to easily, standing on two legs, eat leaves of trees where most herbivores cannot reach them.

What do antelopes eat?

Antelopes live in quite extreme places: in snowy mountains, dry steppes and hot savannas, impenetrable forests. In fact, the diet of animals differs in different climate zones. What an antelope usually eats is determined even by the terrain (mountains, swamps, forests, plains). So, the diet of different representatives of this group may include:

• grass;
• leaves of trees and shrubs;
• aquatic and coastal vegetation;
• fresh branches;
• young shoots;
• flowers;
• fruits;
• moss;
• lichen;
• roots.

Antelopes are ruminants, which allows them to digest even the toughest grass and leaves. Cellulose contained in some parts of plants is not digestible by the stomachs of many herbivores. Bovids have adapted to process this substance by chewing their food twice.

It is said that many antelopes are able to find food almost anywhere. A keen sense of smell and natural ingenuity will always find a solution to a difficult situation. Therefore, what bovids eat may change depending on the different times of the year.

Armed and very dangerous

In the wild, only those who are able to adapt better survive. Antelopes are constantly in danger of being eaten by predators. But these seemingly harmless animals also have their own trump cards up their sleeves.

The gazelle's main weapon is its graceful but strong legs. They save her from being chased by predators. Bovids run very quickly, successfully maneuver and jump, thereby confusing the attacker. In addition, when finding themselves in a hopeless situation (for example, protecting a cub), artiodactyls begin to kick their hooves.

The most noticeable weapon of these animals is their horns. And the graceful artiodactyls use their “decoration” not only for games and mating battles, but also for defense. As a rule, representatives of both sexes of the bovid family have formidable bone weapons. For example, the oryx, an African antelope with long horns, can use a kind of “saber” to fight off its enemies, inflicting severe deep wounds.

Forewarned is forearmed. In the wild, this phrase is almost the most important law of survival. The sooner the herbivore notices the predator, the greater the chance of escape. The antelope is a real spy animal. Her big ears, widely spaced on the sides, like radars, intensely listening to all the rustling of the grass. The eyes, also located on the sides, allow antelopes to see the approach of a predator. These animals also have a highly developed sense of smell.

Antelopes, like any herbivores, have stereoscopic vision. Their eyes are located on both sides of the head, which provides almost all-round vision. These herbivores, unlike predators, have excellent color vision (which allows them to determine the edibility of vegetation). Their eyes focus on stationary objects and are almost unable to see anything in the absence of light.

Sneaking up on one antelope unnoticed is a very difficult task. These animals are almost never left alone. They live in peculiar herd families, which allows them to observe almost the entire area in the area. If one individual from the herd notices a predator, it will immediately notify everyone else with a special signal.

Lifestyle

Antelopes most often lead a diurnal lifestyle. In the light of the sun, it is much easier for these animals to notice a predator and find food. Bovids are forced to lead a nomadic lifestyle, constantly moving across endless pastures, forests or mountains.

Antelopes often live in large herd families. The hierarchy and structure of associations differs significantly among different species. Thus, among pronghorns from Africa, the leader of the herd (clear hierarchy and family ties no) is a female who directs her relatives to a new pasture or body of water. Impalas have unique harems. The leader male guards a group of several females with cubs.

Antelopes sleep very little. During the day, they occasionally doze, standing on their feet or lying down with their legs crossed. In case of danger, the animal instantly wakes up and begins to flee.

Many African antelopes with long horns gather in herds. It's much safer this way. Some animals guard the rest, then they are replaced.

Antelope breeding

Many antelopes have a well-defined breeding season. Mating games begin in February-April, towards the end of the rainy season. Each species expects its babies to appear at the beginning of the wet season, when there is plenty of food.

Antelope pregnancy lasts differently. The larger the size of the individual in the species, the longer the cub is born. For example, the eland, an African antelope with long horns, bears babies for 9 months, and the tiny dik-dik for 6 months.

Mating games are also different. Some species engage in duels. During the duel, the winner is determined on the horns and receives a harem. Other male antelopes gather a group of females, protecting them from strangers.

Babies are born quite strong and literally within a few minutes they get to their feet. Most cubs begin to immediately follow their mother. In some species of bovids, babies hide in special shelters.

Antelope species

If you look at all the antelopes, it’s easy to see how different they are. And this is no coincidence! This motley group of animals includes several families. Sometimes they include some species of bulls and goats. Antelope species are shown by a list of subfamilies:

• real antelopes;
• saberhorns (saber-horned antelopes);
• roe deer (roe antelope);
• cow antelopes (harbers);
• dwarf antelopes;
• waterbucks;
• pronghorns;
• impalas;
• some bulls and goats;
• crested antelopes (duikers).

You will learn about extinct species and genera a little later. Next, let's look at the most interesting representatives of this group.

wildebeest

The wildebeest is one of the most famous herbivores from Africa. They got their unusual and even slightly menacing name from the mooing sounds they make.

There are currently two subspecies of wildebeest: white-tailed (or black) and blue. The first one is considered very rare. White-tailed wildebeest live only in southern Africa (Namibia), and blue ones live a little further north, in Kenya. It is easy to distinguish these two species from each other. The white wildebeest has horns directed slightly forward, the hair on the mane and tail is white, while the blue wildebeest has horns set apart and the hair is black.

The unusual and slightly strange appearance of the animal seemed to influence its character. The wildebeest has an extremely unstable mood. An animal grazing peacefully can suddenly jump up, start butting the air and rush around the area angrily. If this is not enough for the wildebeest, it will attack the first resident of Africa (even an elephant).

One of the most fascinating phenomena of the animal world is the migration of bovids. Each large antelope joins the general migration in search of pastures. The timing of migration is not clearly established. Each year, animals can “advance the schedule.”

Wildebeest are animals with highly developed social contact. Herbivores will always help out a herd member in trouble.

Canna

The eland antelope is the largest animal in the bovid family. Its body length is 2-3 meters, and its weight is from 500 to 1000 kg! Despite its serious size, this African antelope with long horns looks very slender.

Cannas are reddish-ocher from birth. However, their fur darkens over the years, acquiring a gray-blue tint.

Cannas live in northern Africa, where they thrive on the plains. Animals feed on fruits, leaves and grass. Despite their external gracefulness, these antelopes are quite slow (although, if necessary, they can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h). Elands are known as excellent jumpers: from a standing position they can jump over a distance of more than three meters.

This African antelope with long horns lends itself well to domestication. Cannes are grown for their milk, which is several times fattier and healthier than cow's milk, and meat.

These animals are quite peaceful and try not to displace smaller herbivores from their territory. In addition, they try their best to avoid unnecessary fights. Males communicate before meeting, sending signals to each other about their age, size, and size of horns. Opponents evaluate their strength, and the weaker leaves the territory.

The royal, or dwarf, antelope is considered the smallest in its group. Her height does not exceed 30 cm and her weight is no more than 4 kg.

The legs of cute babies from Africa are thin, but very strong. When in danger, the animal can jump 2.5 meters high. The body is small, oval with a characteristic light brown skin. These are very peaceful animals, so fights between males occur infrequently. This is why the black horns of representatives of the species are small (3-4 centimeters).

These little ones live in tropical forests West Africa. They lead an active nocturnal lifestyle, hiding in the morning and during the day. Unfortunately, they small size complicates the study of the species. The list of questions that scientists have accumulated is only growing every year. It is known that representatives of the species live separately.

It is believed that the royal antelope from Africa acquired its miniature size in order to reach what it feeds on - leaves from the lowest tiers. The fact is that each herbivore is adapted to a specific type of vegetation.

Sagaks (or margaches) live in the steppe expanses of Asia. This slightly clumsy antelope, all species of which were until some time in danger of extinction, is easily recognizable. A large nose hanging down to the lower lip is a kind of adaptation to harsh conditions life. The proboscis allows you to filter air that is heavily clogged with dust.

The saiga's nose is able to regulate the temperature and humidity of incoming oxygen. A large number of blood vessels in the proboscis heat or cool the air, and the mucous membranes soften too dry air. The nose is also capable of emitting various sounds and signals.

These medium-sized antelopes weigh up to 80 kg. Their body is long, and their legs are short and strong. Saigas gather in large herds: in the summer they migrate together, and in the winter they keep warm.

On average, each female gives birth to two cubs (less often three or one). For several days, the mother hides her baby in a shelter where the baby saiga lies motionless. Only after this time the Margachi big family begin to graze.

The steppes of Asia have very hot, dry summers and Cold winter With strong winds. This is why the fur coat of saigas changes seasonally: thin in summer, and dense with undercoat in winter.

The gerenuk, or giraffe gazelle, has a very interesting appearance. The animal's name describes her quite accurately. The long, very thin neck and legs allow the gerenuk to reach leaves on the highest branches.

The height of the giraffe gazelle (at the withers) is 95 cm with a very small weight of 30-50 kg. Small black horns are found only on males. The body of the animal is slender and reddish in color.

Gerenuks live in semi-desert treeless areas. They never form groups. Males jealously defend their territory.

Oryx, an African antelope with long horns, is known throughout the world as a famous swordsman. Their slightly curved crown can reach a length of about 90 cm. These animals received their second name - oryx - for their large physique, reminiscent of a bull, and a beautiful striped pattern on the muzzle, like mountain chamois.

Oryxes live in dry deserts and semi-deserts. They are protected from the heat of the sun by a thick, light skin that reflects the rays. In addition, this African antelope with long horns can live without water for several weeks!

Oryx are able to sense moisture several kilometers away. They rarely manage to find bodies of water. They receive all the necessary moisture from sparse vegetation.

Oryx live in small herds, led by a male leader. The association is characterized by a strict hierarchy. The leader guards his ladies with their babies, who walk in the herd right behind him. At the end come the subordinate males.

Oryx are real long-livers among antelopes. In natural conditions, they live on average 18 years!

This African antelope with long horns uses its saber-like weapon in the fight for the female. Duels take place according to special rules. The males stand shoulder to shoulder with each other and begin to fence with their horns. Often this is where it all ends. Oryxes do not allow bloodshed.

Extinct antelopes

The diversity of antelopes is marred by serious losses. Already fourteen genera of these beautiful animals are completely extinct. Among them are both the ancient inhabitants of our planet and those who lived more recently. Let's take a look at some antelopes lost forever to the world.

Tragocerus appeared on our planet about 30 million years ago. These ancient animals lived in the savannas and forest-steppes of Africa. Their gregarious lifestyle is evidenced by the remains found in groups.

These were small (no more than 90 cm in height) antelopes quickly spread across the continent, adapting to a wide variety of vegetation. Goats became extinct about 5 million years ago due to a sharp drying of the climate, and then cooling.

It’s not for nothing that saigas are called living fossils. These animals have maintained their unchanged appearance for more than 250 thousand years! Traditionally, saigas are considered a steppe Asian antelope, but in 1876, geologist Ivan Dementievich Chersky found the skull of a margacha in cold Yakutia.

It turns out that these antelopes lived at the same time as mammoths. It is in conditions of extreme low temperatures and lack of food, the famous nose of the Margach was formed.

The blue antelope became the first large herbivore in Africa to become extinct due to human causes. Their habitat was very small (4 thousand square kilometers) and was located in the very south of the continent. Although, judging by the rock paintings, in ancient times it was much larger.

The animal was discovered by Europeans in the 18th century. The antelope got its name because of the slightly bluish tint of its skin, which “shone through” the skin. The animal's horns were medium in size, in the shape of a curved saber. In appearance, the blue antelope was typical representative horse antelopes, only somewhat smaller and more graceful.

Rare animals began to be mercilessly killed for the sake of beautiful skin and just for fun. The meat was fed to dogs, as it was completely tasteless. The blue antelope constantly needed water, so it was vulnerable and could not escape.

The last representative of the species died in 1799 (or 1800). For local peoples, this loss was even more painful: the animal was seen as a protector from dark forces and evil spirits.

Now only four stuffed blue antelopes and several bone fragments have survived.

Red gazelle

Red gazelles lived in the sediment-rich Atlas Mountains of northern Africa. Unfortunately, almost nothing is known about these animals. Three stuffed animals have survived, which were bought at the Algerian market in late XIX century. The last representative of the species was killed in 1894 while hunting. The red gazelle was officially recognized as extinct only a century later.

Enemies of antelopes in nature

In the wild, antelopes always have enough offenders. These graceful animals become a desirable meal for many predators. Most often, cubs, old, sick and young individuals who cannot fully defend themselves and run away die.

IN African savannas bovids are hunted large predators. Lions, leopards, hyena dogs, and cheetahs often attack antelopes helpless in the dark. In addition, many herbivores die in the teeth of crocodiles when crossing rivers. And miniature artiodactyls, for example, dik-diks, are periodically attacked by large predator birds(falcons, vultures, eagles) and smaller carnivores (foxes, jackals).

Living in high mountains chamois also hide from their enemies. High gorges are a good refuge, but when animals descend lower, danger awaits them. , golden eagles, foxes, leopards, lynxes and eagles tirelessly attack the agile chamois.

And the forest inhabitants have more than enough enemies. Wolves, jaguars, tigers, wolverines are waiting for them in the thickets, preparing to attack. The cubs are in danger because they cannot yet detect the approach of a predator.

In the dry steppes, antelopes are hunted by corsac foxes, caracals, wolves, peregrine falcons, eagles and kites. They attack old and young saigas, which they take away from the herd.

The main enemy of gazelles is man. People, violating the laws of nature, kill strong and healthy animals without any need for food. It is man who is to blame for the disappearance of several species of beautiful bovids and bringing others to a critical state.

Now they are trying to “rehabilitate” endangered artiodactyls in national parks and zoos. Thus, the Saharan oryx population, which had been restored over several decades, was recently returned to nature.

Even in the Middle Ages, antelope was rarely found on the coats of arms of European kingdoms and cities. Although, if you see her image, you will hardly recognize her as a creature with the head of a tiger, on which there are terrible horns with jagged edges, huge boar tusks, thick long hair on the neck and a lion’s tail. All that was left of this strange chimera was its body. This creature appeared on the emblem of King Henry V. In heraldry, such an image symbolizes grace, speed, and a spiritual ideal. Now antelopes (in the form familiar to humans) adorn the coats of arms of Uganda and Zimbabwe.

In 2009, paleontologists discovered an ancient antelope in Kenya. While the animal only has scientific name"Rusingoryx atopocranion". The ancient herbivore lived approximately in the same place where the famous wildebeest now lives. The skeleton, which is already several thousand years old, is very well preserved. This enabled scientists to establish that the structure and appearance of the animal are almost the same as that of the wildebeest. Only one detail stands out: the nose ancient mammal there are bone combs that worked like vuvuzelas. Similar mechanisms allowing ultrasound communication were found in some species of dinosaurs.

Not all antelopes have only two horns. In India there live small animals, about 60 cm in height. Of all bovids, four-horned antelopes can boast of having two pairs of bone growths. This species is now endangered due to its unusual head and delicious meat The animal was actively hunted.

The pronghorn, an African antelope with long horns, has a very good eyesight. His big eyes, located on the sides of the head, work like powerful binoculars. Scientists have calculated that the pronghorn sees everything as clearly as a lens with eight times magnification.

A male eland has a strand of hair growing on its head throughout its life. From these beams the age of the animal can be determined. Old antelopes have long and thick hair.

GDF 14-11-2013 12:56

I am posting one of my materials from the book African Diaries

Nyala is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful antelopes South Africa. She owes her name to the Zulu language, they call her inyala, and after them the rest of the world began to call her nyala. In beauty and unusual appearance, she can compete with any other antelope from the so-called beautiful antelope nine, which also includes her mountain cousin mountain nyala, iland, giant iland, large and small kudu, bongo, sitatunga and bushbuck. This average size an animal weighing 100-120 kg with a very narrow body, as if special for moving in dense bush. Nyala cannot be confused with any other animal. Males are gray in color with milky white thin stripes on the sides, a white chevron on the muzzle, light lips, beautifully curled horns with ivory-colored tips. Males also have a mane along the entire back and dewlap. Females are much smaller than males, they do not have horns, their color is reddish-brown, and they are also decorated with transverse stripes. Males stay separately, alone or in bachelor groups, and join females only during the rut. It feeds on grass and young shoots of plants. Nyala is an inhabitant of dense bush; in its habits it is very similar to a bushbuck. Just like bushbuck, nyala prefers dense thickets near rivers. You can, of course, hunt nyala primarily in South Africa, as well as in certain areas of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Hunting is inexpensive, especially in comparison with such representatives of the nine-horned species as the giant iland, bongo, sitatunga and mountain nyala. In South Africa, on a ranch with a high density of animals, a well-developed network of roads in the lands, and a wonderful nyala trophy is easy to get in one day, sometimes without leaving more than 100m from the car. Nyala is often combined with a package of other antelopes. In Zimbabwe and Mozambique, in wilder conditions, hunting is more sportive and it can take several days to hunt a nyala; there you can combine a nyala hunt with a buffalo, elephant or leopard hunt.

GDF 14-11-2013 12:58

The main way to hunt nyala is through careful foot patrols. favorite places habitat (although on some farms in South Africa searches by car are possible). Early in the morning or an hour before sunset, nyala can be found feeding in open areas. During the day it rests in the dense bush and can only be caught by chance. Hunters in the morning or evening hours slowly and trying not to make too much noise move around the land in search of nyala. It is necessary to make frequent stops to carefully check the surrounding area with binoculars. It is often possible to first detect not the animal itself, but a brown-gray patch of skin, a white chevron on the muzzle, or the tip of a horn in the thickets. When planning a route, of course, you need to take into account the wind direction. Hunting is most difficult at the beginning of the season, as dense vegetation makes it difficult to spot animals. But hunting at this time also has certain advantages: the beginning of the season is the rutting period, bulls stay together with females and become less cautious. In addition, females differ more bright color and they are easier to spot by the hunter, so if at this time you notice a female nyala, carefully look around and wait, it is likely that a male is nearby.
The hunter must be prepared to shoot quickly, often hand-held. The distance with this hunting method rarely exceeds 50-60m. A professional hunter is also required to immediately assess the trophy. Nyala will not allow herself to be looked at and takes aim for a long time. To tell the truth, determine the value of a potential nyala trophy in field conditions quite simple. When viewed from the front, the formed horns of an adult male nyala resemble a bell. So, if with this shape the light tips of the horns look up, then we see in front of us a good trophy somewhere around 22", if the tips are turned outward then we're talking about about a good trophy 24-25" long. If not the tips themselves, but their longer part diverges to the sides, then this is a 26-27" class trophy. When we have in front of us a male with horns with a thick base, whose long ends diverge to the sides at a very noticeable angle, then we are dealing with an exceptional trophy of 30" or more.

GDF 14-11-2013 14:08

The choice of weapon and optics is determined by the method of hunting; a weapon for specialized hunting for nyala should be short and swinging, convenient for a quick shot from the hands. Nyala is not a very tough animal and caliber 30-06 is quite sufficient, but if hunting involves, in addition to Nyala, the opportunity to get a representative of the Big Five, you should pay attention to 375NN. The optics must be of low magnification and must be backlit to sometimes help make a quick shot through dense thickets.
I want to tell you about my hunt for this beautiful antelope. I have been eyeing the nyala for several years; on the one hand, it is a very beautiful animal, one of the nine horned antelopes in Africa. On the other hand, all my many friends who have already obtained nyala did it in South Africa on a ranch. I wanted to hunt a nyala only in the wild, without fences, and it would be advisable to combine the hunt for it with the hunt for one of the Big Five representatives.

GDF 14-11-2013 14:09

Such an opportunity presented itself, the place was called Malapati, it was located in close proximity to the Gonarez National Park, famous for its magnificent elephant trophies. This southeast Zimbabwe is literally a few kilometers from the border with South Africa in the south and Mozambique in the east.
In the morning and afternoon we looked for the elephant, and in the evening we completely devoted ourselves to the nyala. An hour and a half before sunset, we carefully walked around the coastal thickets in search of a suitable trophy. It was the seventh day of the hunt, before that we had only seen small males or mated nyalas in dense vegetation. It was the beginning of the season, visibility was very limited and it was very difficult to spot the animal before it did. The hunt that evening did not go very well; the wind, which often changed direction, which was unusual for this time of day, pushed several nyala away from us. We did not see them, but only heard the noise of retreating animals in the dense vegetation. We did not lose heart, we continued to move slowly and carefully along our route, constantly checking the wind with a bottle of ash. If the wind was unfavorable, we would slow down and wait. Everything happened quickly in just two or three seconds. While moving, the first RN stopped, noticing something in a small group of trees some couple of tens of meters ahead, he immediately fell on his elbows to look at the animals under the trees. Instantly appreciating he shouted back to me! Right! Without hesitation, I rushed forward through the wall of bushes and saw two nyala males running away from a small clearing into the thicket somewhere 40 meters away from me. I shot offhand at the rear antelope with what seemed to me to be large horns already through the vegetation. I was sure I got it, the question is how. There was very little blood, judging by its appearance and other secretions, it hit the belly. The tracking was greatly complicated by the many traces of different freshness of other nyalas around, as well as the fact that there were about 15 minutes left before complete darkness. After walking a hundred meters, we decided not to push the wounded animal far but to continue the search in the morning. I was very worried about how we would find our nyala in the morning; there were a lot of hyenas in this place. But there was no choice, the situation did not allow me to shoot better; if I had hesitated for a moment, I would not have even seen anything at all. Having remembered on the GPS the place where we left our tracks, we went to the car. In the morning, instead of looking for the elephant, we went there while it was still dark in order to get to the place with the first rays of the sun, while walking from the car I was overcome by gloomy thoughts. The chants of hyenas could be heard from two different ends, and the hooting of a lion was heard from a park several kilometers away. As soon as visibility allowed, the trekkers continued tracking. There was very little blood and the night traces of other nyalas were added, so it was not surprising that after 150-200 meters we lost the trail. More precisely, we could not identify the wounded animal’s track in the maze of tracks. Attempts by the trackers to move in a circle away from the place where the last blood was found also led to nothing. In the end, Nyala was not a wound-resistant animal, having received a bullet in the stomach from a 375NN, she should not go far, she hid in some kind of thorny bush and got there. So, having reasoned, we returned to the place where the last drop of blood was found. Afterwards we dispersed from it in all directions, checking all the supports within a radius of 300m. This tactic helped us out; about an hour and a half later, one of the trackers found an already numb nyala in the next thickets he was checking. The animal arrived in the evening, and it was very difficult to take photographs. But the hyenas did not find it, and the cold night at the beginning of the season also made it possible to obtain an undamaged skin.
As for taxidermy, a nyala trophy is exactly the case when it is worth ordering the entire stuffed animal if the size of the trophy room allows. A chest-high stuffed nyala also looks great, but unfortunately it won’t show all its splendor appearance and the color of this amazing beast.

The appearance of the nyala (T. angasi), the third representative of forest antelopes, is exceptionally peculiar. It is about the same size as a small kudu, its horns, slightly curled, reach a length of 80 cm. The color of males and females is different: in males it is dark, grayish-brown, in females it is red.

On the sides, like kudu, there are white transverse stripes. Males have long, thick black hair on the neck, chest, belly and thighs that form a kind of “skirt”, which allows you to recognize the animal at first sight. The nyala's range is small - it covers Mozambique and South Africa.

Kingdom: Class: Mammals Order: Suborder: Family: subfamily: Bulls Genus: Forest antelopes Species: Nyala Latin name Tragelaphus angasii

This antelope inhabits dry hilly plateaus, rocky plains overgrown with thorny bushes, and gallery forests, but is always found near water. Nyala, like kudu, live in small herds of 7-14 animals.

The composition of such herds varies, sometimes there are several females led by a male, sometimes there are only females or males. Nyala graze at dusk and at night, going out to more open places, and spend the day in shelter, in the thick of bushes.

Graceful nyala antelope

The graceful nyala antelope, which inhabits the savannas of Southeast Africa, is a shy animal that lives under the cover of trees and in thickets of bushes.

Features of the animal

Horns: Dark brown or black with ivory tips. Head: Both sexes have large ears, so the animals have very keen hearing and hear the sounds of an enemy that is approaching. Males have bright white spots between the eyes. Male: darker than female. The coat is brown with a grayish tint. Body divided by 14 narrow vertical stripes white. The male's head, neck and shoulders are covered with a mane, which stands on end during a collision with an opponent. Female: smaller than the male, light red hair, white dots and transverse stripes on the sides. A short black mane stretches along the back. When in danger, it emits a piercing, abrupt cry. The female gives birth to one, or less often two, babies. They lie for some time, hiding in dense thickets. The mother visits to feed the offspring and then disappears again. When babies grow up, they begin to follow their mother.

Nyala is a small antelope, about the size of a small kudu. Its slightly curled horns reach 80 cm in length. Nyala is found on spacious lowland savannas. Appearing in open areas, the antelope is in danger of becoming a victim of a lion or leopard. When nyalas are forced to move across open areas, for example while migrating in search of water or food, they gather in large herds. Thanks to this, ungulates quickly notice the approach of a predator. The antelope herd is kept in an area ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 km2 and numbers up to 30 animals. A mixed or bachelor herd is always headed by one male leader. The leader of the family group is the adult female. Fights between males rarely end in the death of animals, however, when arguing over a female, they often hit the opponent with their front legs and horns. The fur on the back of the males stands on end, while the animals nervously run back and forth with their fluffy tails raised high. Enraged opponents rush at each other, heads bowed, horns pointed towards the opponent. The herd does not guard its territory, but single males often mark their territory by leaving secretions of odorous glands located on the animals’ faces on the bushes. When driving away strangers, males knock their horns on the ground. Nyala coexist well with other species of antelope.

Nyalu grazes from early evening until morning. To do this, the animal goes out into open areas. Later he hides in a hiding place, in the thick of the bushes. The antelope feeds on leaves, branches, grass, wild fruits and some cultivated plants. The animal likes the leaves of many types of trees and bushes, including the leaves of acacia, mustard tree, salvador and medicinal cucumber grass. She also consumes baobab bark. Nyala eats everything she can reach: she wraps her tongue around part of the plant and then plucks it with her lower teeth. During the period of grass growth, the antelope plucks young shoots not with its teeth, but with its lips. During drought, the animal feeds on dry leaves.

The population of the species is quite stable throughout its entire range, despite the irrational use of its habitats by humans.

Antelope(s) are common name mammals from the order Artiodactyla, family Bovidae. The name “antelope” comes from the Middle Greek word ἀνθόλοψ, meaning “horned animal.”

The pronghorn is the second fastest running animal in the world after the cheetah.

Antelopes have many enemies: in nature they are exterminated by large predators -,. Humans cause significant damage to the population, because antelope meat is considered very tasty and is considered a delicacy by many peoples.

The average lifespan of an antelope in nature is from 12 to 20 years.

Where do antelopes live?

The vast majority of antelopes live in South Africa, with a number of species found in Asia. Only 2 species live in Europe: chamois and saiga (saiga). Several species live in North America, for example, pronghorn.

Some antelopes live in steppes and savannas, others prefer dense undergrowth and jungles, and some spend their entire lives in the mountains.

What does antelope eat in the wild?

The antelope is a ruminant herbivore; its stomach consists of 4 chambers, which allows it to digest plant foods, rich in cellulose. Antelopes graze early in the morning or at dusk, when the heat subsides, and are in constant motion in search of food.

The diet of most antelopes consists of various types of grasses, leaves of evergreen shrubs and shoots of young trees. Some antelopes eat algae, fruits, fruits, legume seeds, flowering plants and lichens. Some species are unpretentious in food, others are very selective and consume strictly certain types of herbs, and therefore periodically migrate in search of the main source of food.

Antelopes sense approaching rain very well and accurately determine the direction of movement towards fresh grass.

In hot conditions African climate most antelope species can for a long time do without water, eating grass saturated with moisture.

Types of antelopes, photos and names

The classification of antelopes is not constant and currently includes 7 main subfamilies, which include many interesting varieties:

• wildebeest or wildebeest(Connochaetes)

African antelope, is a genus of artiodactyl animals of the subfamily of hares, including 2 species: black and blue wildebeest.

• • Black wildebeest, aka white-tailed wildebeest or wildebeest(Connochaetes gnou)

one of the smallest species of African antelope. The antelope lives in South Africa. The height of males is about 111-121 cm, and the body length reaches 2 meters with a body weight of 160 to 270 kg, and females are slightly inferior in size to males. Antelopes of both sexes are dark brown or black in color, females are lighter than males, and the tails of the animals are always white. The horns of the African antelope are shaped like hooks, growing first downward, then forward and upward. The length of the horns of some male antelopes reaches 78 cm. A thick black beard grows on the face of the black wildebeest, and the scruff of the neck is decorated with a white mane with black tips.

• • Blue wildebeest(Connochaetes taurinus)

slightly larger than black. The average height of antelopes is 115-145 cm with a weight of 168 to 274 kg. Blue wildebeest get their name due to their bluish-gray coat color, and on the sides of the animals there are dark vertical stripes, like those of the wildebeest. The tail and mane of antelopes are black, the horns are cow-type, dark gray or black. Blue wildebeest have a very selective diet: antelopes eat grass certain types, and therefore are forced to migrate to areas where there has been rain and the necessary food has grown. The animal's voice is a loud and nasal grunt. About 1.5 million blue wildebeest live on savannas African countries: Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania, 70% of the population is concentrated in the Serengeti National Park.

• Nyala or plain nyala(Tragelaphus angasii)

frican horned antelope from the bovine subfamily and genus of forest antelopes. The height of the animals is about 110 cm, and the body length reaches 140 cm. The weight of adult antelopes ranges from 55 to 125 kg. Nyala males are more massive than females. It is very easy to distinguish males from females: gray males wear screw-shaped horns with white tips, ranging from 60 to 83 cm in length, have a bristling mane running along the back, and ragged hair hanging from the front of the neck to the groin. Female nyalas are hornless and have a red-brown color. In individuals of both sexes, up to 18 vertical white stripes are clearly visible on the sides. The main source of food for the antelope is the fresh foliage of young trees; grass is consumed only periodically. The usual habitats of the nyala are dense thicket landscapes in the territories of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Animals were also induced into the national parks of Botswana and South Africa.

• Related species - mountain nyala(Tragelaphus buxtoni)

differs in a more massive body compared to the plain nyala. The body length of the mountain antelope is 150-180 cm, the height at the withers is approximately 1 meter, the horns of males reach 1 m in length. The antelope's weight varies between 150 and 300 kg. The species lives exclusively in the mountainous regions of the Ethiopian Highlands and the East African Rift Valley.

• Horse antelope, she's the same roan antelope(Hippotragus equinus)

African saber-horned antelope, one of the largest representatives of the family with a height at the withers of about 1.6 m and a body weight of up to 300 kg. The body length is 227-288 cm. The animal resembles in appearance. The thick fur of the horse antelope has a grayish-brown color with a red tint, and a black and white mask is “painted” on the face. The heads of individuals of both sexes are decorated with elongated ears with tassels at the tips and well-twisted horns directed in an arched manner backwards. Mostly horse antelopes eat grasses or algae, and these animals do not eat foliage and twigs of bushes. The antelope lives in the savannas of Western, Eastern and Southern Africa.

• (Tragelaphus eurycerus)

a rare species of African antelope, listed in the International Red Book. These mammals belong to the bovine subfamily and the genus of forest antelopes. Bongos are quite large animals: the height at the withers of mature individuals reaches 1-1.3 m, and the weight is about 200 kg. Representatives of the species are distinguished by a rich, chestnut-red color with white transverse stripes on the sides, islands of white fur on the legs and a white crescent spot on the chest. Bongo antelopes are not picky and eat with pleasure. different kinds herbs and foliage of shrubs. The species' habitat passes through rugged forests and mountainous terrain in Central Africa.

• Four-horned antelope(Tetracerus quadricornis)

a rare Asian antelope and the only representative of bovids whose head is decorated with not 2, but 4 horns. The height of these antelopes is about 55-54 cm with a body weight of no more than 22 kg. The animals' body is covered with brown fur, which contrasts with the white belly. Only males are endowed with horns: the front pair of horns barely reaches 4 cm, and most often they are practically invisible, the rear horns grow up to 10 cm in height. The four-horned antelope eats grass and lives in the jungles of India and Nepal.

• cow antelope, she's the same kongoni, steppe hartebeest or common hartebeest(Alcelaphus buselaphus)

This is an African antelope from the hartebeest subfamily. Kongoni are large animals with a height of about 1.3 m and a body length of up to 2 m. The cow antelope weighs almost 200 kg. Depending on the subspecies, the Kongoni's coat color varies from light gray to dark brown, with a characteristic black pattern on its face and black markings on its legs. Luxurious horns up to 70 cm long are worn by individuals of both sexes; their shape is a crescent, curved to the sides and upwards. The cow antelope feeds on grasses and leaves of bushes. Representatives of the Kongoni subspecies live throughout Africa: from Morocco to Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania.

• Black antelope(Hippotragus niger)

African antelope, which belongs to the genus of equine antelopes, the family of saber-horned antelopes. The height of the black antelope is about 130 cm with a body weight of up to 230 kg. Adult males are distinguished by their blue-black body color, which contrasts favorably with their white belly. Young males and females are brick or dark brown in color. Horns curved back in a semicircle and consisting of large quantity rings, have individuals of both sexes. Sable antelopes live in the steppes from Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia to the southern part of the African continent.

• Canna, she's the same common eland(Taurotragus oryx)

the largest antelope in the world. Externally, the eland is similar to, only slimmer, and the dimensions of the animal are impressive: the height at the withers of adult individuals is 1.5 meters, the body length reaches 2-3 meters, and the body weight can be from 500 to 1000 kg. The common eland has a yellow-brown coat that becomes grey-blue on the neck and shoulders as it ages. Males are distinguished by pronounced folds of skin on the neck and a bizarre tuft of hair on the forehead. Distinctive features antelopes – from 2 to 15 light stripes in the front of the body, massive shoulders and curled straight horns that adorn both females and males. The eland's diet consists of grasses, foliage, as well as rhizomes and tubers, which the animals extract from the ground with their front hooves. The eland antelope lives on the plains and foothills throughout Africa, with the exception of the western and northern regions.

• Pygmy antelope, she's the same dwarf antelope ( Neotragus pygmaeus)

The smallest of the antelopes, it belongs to the subfamily of true antelopes. The height of an adult animal barely reaches 20-23 cm (rarely 30 cm) with a body weight of 1.5 to 3.6 kg. A newborn dwarf antelope weighs about 300 g and can fit in the palm of a person. The hind limbs of the antelope are much longer than the front ones, so in case of alarm the animals are capable of jumping up to 2.5 m in length. Adults and young are the same color and have red-brown fur, with only the chin, belly, inner legs and tail tuft being white. Males grow miniature black horns in the shape of a cone and 2.5-3.5 cm long. The dwarf antelope feeds on leaves and fruits. The natural habitat of the mammals is the dense forests of West Africa: Liberia, Cameroon, Guinea, Ghana.

• Common gazelle ( Gazella gazella)

an animal from the subfamily of true antelopes. The body length of the gazelle varies between 98-115 cm, weight - from 16 to 29.5 kg. Females are lighter than males and inferior to them in size by about 10 cm. The body of the common gazelle is thin, the neck and legs are long, the croup of the mammal is crowned with a tail 8-13 cm long. The horns of males reach 22-29 cm in length, while females have shorter horns - only 6 -12 cm. The color of the coat along the back and on the sides is dark brown, on the belly, croup and with inside legs fur is white. Often this color border is divided by a spectacular dark stripe. Distinctive feature species - a pair of white stripes on the face that run vertically from the horns through the eyes to the nose of the animal. The common gazelle lives in semi-desert and desert areas Israel and Saudi Arabia, in the UAE, in Yemen, Lebanon and Oman.

• or black-footed antelope ( Aepyceros melampus)

The body length of representatives of this species varies between 120-160 cm with a height at the withers of 75-95 cm and a weight of 40 to 80 kg. Males wear lyre-shaped horns, the length of which often exceeds 90 cm. The coat color is brown, with the sides being slightly lighter. The belly, chest area, as well as the neck and chin are white. The hind legs have bright black stripes on either side, and there is a tuft of black hair above the hooves. The impala's habitat covers Kenya, Uganda, extending to the savannas of South Africa and the territory of Botswana. One population lives separately on the border of Angola and Namibia, and is distinguished as an independent subspecies (Aepyceros melampus petersi).

• Saiga antelope or saiga ( Saiga tatarica)

an animal from the subfamily of true antelopes. The body length of the saiga ranges from 110 to 146 cm, weight from 23 to 40 kg, height at the withers 60-80 cm. The body has an elongated shape, the limbs are thin and rather short. Only males bear lyre-shaped yellowish-whitish horns. A characteristic feature of the appearance of saigas is the nose: it looks like a movable soft trunk with nostrils as close as possible and gives the animal’s muzzle a certain hunchback. The color of the saiga antelope varies depending on the time of year: in summer the fur is yellow-red, darkening towards the back line and lighter on the belly; in winter the fur takes on a grayish-clay tint. Saigas live on the territory of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, are found in Turkmenistan, western Mongolia and Uzbekistan; in Russia, their habitat covers Astrakhan region, steppes of Kalmykia, Altai Republic.

• Zebra duiker ( Cephalophus zebra)

a mammal of the forest duiker genus. The body length of the duiker is 70-90 cm with a weight of 9 to 20 kg and a height at the withers of 40-50 cm. The body of the animal is squat, with developed muscles and a characteristic curve on the back. The legs are short, with widely spaced hooves. Both sexes have short horns. The coat of the zebra duiker is distinguished by a light orange color; a “zebra” pattern of black stripes is clearly visible on the body - their number varies from 12 to 15 pieces. The animal's habitat is limited to a small area in West Africa: The zebra duiker chooses dense tropical thickets as its habitat in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast.

• Jeyran ( Gazella subgutturosa)

an animal from the genus of gazelles, the bovid family. The body length of the gazelle ranges from 93 to 116 cm, with a weight of 18 to 33 kg and a height at the withers of 60 to 75 cm. The head of males is decorated with black lyre-shaped horns with transverse rings; females are usually hornless, although some individuals have small rudimentary horns of about 3 -5 cm in length. The back and sides of the gazelle are sand-colored, the belly, neck and limbs on the inside are white. The tip of the tail is always black. Young animals have a clearly defined pattern on the face: it is represented by a spot Brown in the area of ​​the bridge of the nose and a pair of dark stripes running from the eyes to the corners of the mouth. The gazelle lives in mountainous regions, desert and semi-desert zones in Armenia, Georgia, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, and is found in southern Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and China.