SABLE ANTELOPE – Hippotragus niger

SIZE: Shoulder height (m) 1,35 m, (f) 1,25 m; mass (m) 235 kg, (f) 210 kg. Both sexes have curved horns.
COLOUR: Upper-body parts dark brown to black, often with a satinlike sheen; males darker than females. Underside and back of thighs white, with white markings on face. Dark, upstanding mane extends along neck to shoulders.
GESTATION PERIOD: 9 months
POTENTIAL LONGEVITY: 18 -19 years
RECORD LENGTH OF HORNS: 155 cm
LENGTH OF EARS: approx. 20 cm
MOST LIKE: Slightly smaller than the Roan Antelope, and with dark brown or black coat, compared with roan's reddish-grey coat; roan has shaggy hair on neck and throat.
HABITAT: Open savanna woodland with medium to high grass, close to water.

They are gregarious, often forming herds of 20 - 30, although they do form temporary groupings of up to 200. Adult bulls establish their own territory, and during the mating season aggressively defend it, with sometimes fatal results. Young males know better than to tangle with their elders, and split up into separate bachelor herds until they are old, wise and strong enough to make a successful challenge against a territorial bull. A breeding herd is led by the territorial bull, but a dominant cow will take the initiative in finding new pastures and water. Single calves are usually born between January and March when the grass is fairly high. The cow leaves the herd for the birth. Calves are reddish-brown in colour, and lie concealed in a shady spot for most of the day, only visited once or twice a day by its mother so that it can suckle. The calves don't seem to have an odour, which helps protect them against predators: after being suckled and cleaned by its mother, they usually choose a new hiding place, thereby lessening the chance of being scent-trailed by predators.

DISTRIBUTION

Strikingly coloured and with powerful horns, the Sable Antelope is undoubtedly lord of the antelope. Aloof from other species, fearful even to some predators, it is truly a king amongst commoners. Other antelope back off meekly when the Sable Antelope approaches, and spotted hyaenas, wild dogs, cheetahs and leopards are very reluctant to challenge this courageous and dangerous fighter.

Even lions have been known to come off second best; gored to death by those deadly horns. Sable Antelope are a savanna woodland species, and are dependant on cover and the availability of water. They are mainly grazers, but will browse to a small extent, particularly towards the end of the dry season when the nutritional value of grasses is low.

WILDLIFE PARKS AND RESERVES WHERE THIS SPECIES IS FOUND:

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