Kudus - Africa's Wild Wonders - Go Wild

Africa's savannah bushveld is made up of well-grassed plains dotted by dense clusters of woodland. These grasses, shrubs and trees are home and food sources for the many animals who live here. The entire system is interconnected. Herbivores eat off the land and in turn predators eat the herbivores. This all relies on the weather, which can be unpredictable, especially in Africa. Grasses here are tall, turning brown in winter and even die off, leaving grass eaters, more commonly known as grazers, vulnerable in these drought conditions. Animals that survive well during dry conditions are browsers, those that eat leaves from shrubs and trees. One of Africa's largest antelopes, the kudu, survives on leaves and does not need to drink regularly due to the trapped moisture in the leaf material. Giraffes eat at the tree line above kudus, while other antelope species who are smaller eat below the kudu's browsing line. Even eating sections on trees are highly organized in this interconnected system. Considered one of the most beautiful antelope for the markings on its face and large brown eyes, the most admired feature of a kudu is their impressive set of horns. Only males sport these horns, which can get very large by the time a bull is in his prime. Not only do horns indicate age, but they are used to fight for dominance as well as access to females. Bulls must have a full set of horns before they can fight as contenders. They will only fight if they are evenly matched due to the risk of death from stab wounds or interlocked horns. Bulls in their prime develop thick necks and regularly sharpen their horn points and thrash their horns against trees or into thickets to show off to other males. Navigating through their woodland home should prove difficult with these flashy pieces, but the kudu certainly doesn't seem to notice moving easily through the dense bush. Living in these thickets means good hearing is essential for survival. Huge ears capture everything around them. Once a threat is established, kudus use a loud bark to warn the rest of the herd around them. This alarm call is the loudest of all the antelope alarms. Kudus not only sport impressive horns, but also come with some of the best camouflage markings in nature. When alerted, they are very difficult to spot and usually stand dead still until the threat has passed. A kudu's hooves are small and they do something very clever when they walk through the undergrowth. The antelope place their hind hoof into exactly the same spot left behind by the front hoof, which makes them move stealthily through the thickets. Kudu cows live in small groups with their young, but do join up together when there is good grazing, helping increase security. When kudu do come down to the waterhole to drink, they do so quickly and leave as quietly as they can. Elegant creatures of the savannah bushveld, kudu antelope are much admired by African culture for their grace under pressure and impressive appearance. One of the continent's most beautiful inhabitants.