Amazing antelopes are nature’s grac Ceful, speedy runners
This week we’ve lined up some fascinating and fun facts about a wide variety of antelopes. For instance, did you know that the kudu’s horns can grow longer than 1.6m?
Antelopes are amazing creatures that roam the grasslands, forests and deserts of Africa, India and beyond. They are part of a big family called Bovidae, which includes animals like cattle, sheep and goats. Antelopes are known for their speed and grace, and their ability to munch on grass and leaves all day long. But life is not always easy for these plant-eating pals: they have to watch out for hungry predators like lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas!
Antelopes come in all shapes and sizes. Some live in big groups on open plains, while others prefer to go solo in dense forests. It’s interesting to note that the pronghorn, which hangs out on the wide open plains and grasslands of North America, belongs to the Antilocapridae family and is not related to the antelopes in Africa at all.
Antelopes account for more than two-thirds of the roughly 135 species of hollow-horned ruminants (cud chewers) in the family Bovidae. Africa, which has about 71 species, is the continent of antelopes. Only 14 species inhabit the entire continent of Asia, and all but three of them are members of the gazelle tribe (Antilopini).
As in all Bovidae, male antelopes have horns, which range from the short spikes of duikers to the corkscrew horns (more than 1.6m long) of the greater kudu. Two-thirds of female antelopes have horns; they are invariably thinner and usually shorter than those of the male. In gregarious species where both sexes are often together in mixed herds, the horns are similarly shaped, and in female oryxes and elands, they are often longer.
Let’s take a closer look at seven different kinds of antelopes:
1. Gerenuk: These antelopes have long necks and stand tall on their hind legs to reach yummy leaves high up in the trees.
2. Impala: With their sleek bodies and impressive jumping skills, impalas are known for their acrobatic moves when escaping from predators.
3. Thomson’s gazelle: These speedy antelopes can sprint across the savannah at lightning speed, making them a tough catch for hungry predators.
4. Common eland: Eland are the largest antelopes, and they have big, twisting horns that make them look like majestic kings of the grasslands.
5. Saiga: Saigas are unique, with their funny-looking noses that droop down like big, floppy trumpets. They live in the cold, windy steppes of Central Asia.
6. Suni: These tiny antelopes are masters of camouflage, blending in perfectly with the lush greenery of the rainforest floor.
7. Blackbuck: Known for their sleek black coats and elegant horns, blackbuck are a sight to behold on the grassy plains of India.
Did you know that many antelope species are facing tough times in the wild? Some, like the dama gazelle and the hirola, are critically endangered, which means they are at risk of disappearing forever if we do not do something to help them. Other antelopes, like the beisa oryx and the scimitar-horned oryx, are also in trouble, but conservation efforts are under way to protect them and their habitats. The grey rhebok is nearly threatened and, since April 2023, so is the sable, a species that was classed as critically endangered for many years.
So, the next time you see an antelope racing across the plains or gracefully munching on leaves, remember how special these animals are and how important it is to keep them safe in their natural habitat.