Bushbuck

Name

Appearance
The very sharp horns render the Bushbuck very dangerous when wounded. The Bushbuck is a close relative of the Kudu and the Nyala. The rams are very elegant in appearance, sporting dark greyish-brown fur, with white spots on the flanks and prominent white socks. In height they are 700mm at the shoulders, and have a maximum mass of 54 Kg's.
Diet
Bushbuck are mainly browsers, but on rare occasions will consume grass. They are selective feeders, but during hardship are able to adapt their feeding habits for the sake of survival.Breeding

The young calf does not accompany its mother for long periods during the day until it is about 4 months old and so it must leave the calf well hidden. When she visits and suckles it, she even eats its dung to remove any scent that remains which may attract predators. Ewes reach sexual maturity at 14 months. Even though rams reach sexual maturity at 11 months they generally do not mate until socially adept at the age of three years.
Behaviour

When surprised in the open, they sometimes stand still or slowly walk to the nearest cover. The Bushbuck is primarily nocturnal, but it is also fairly active during the day. Half of a Bushbuck's day is spent standing and grazing. Around dusk the Bushbuck move toward their night range to feed from where they off at dawn. The Bushbuck is also the only non-territorial and solitary African antelope with neither males nor females defending any part of their home range. Though Bushbuck have small home ranges which may overlap with those of other bushbuck, they are solitary animals with even females preferring to keep social interactions with their young to not more than a few hours a day. Mature males usually go out of their way to avoid contact with each other.
Habitat
Bushbuck's preferred habitat is dense bush at the base of mountains or along river courses. This antelope is always found close to permanent water courses.Where they are found

Predators
Bushbucks are most vulnerable to predators such as Leopard, Lions, Hyenas and Cheetah when on the run, but if cornered the male will fight bravely and if attacked may even become a dangerous foe. Even though Baboons sometimes eat the young, Bushbucks continue to associate closely with them at times, picking up fallen fruit and other foods that foraging Baboons drop.Vital Statistics
- Latin Name
- Tragelaphus Scriptus
- Weight (Female)
- 30 - 36 kg
- Weight (Male)
- 40 - 77 kg
- Gestation Period
- 6 months
- No of Young
- 1 lamb
- Sexual Maturity
- 11 - 14 months
- Birth Weight
- 4 kg
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Horns
- 40 cm
- Breeding
- A single young is born anytime during the year after a gestation period of about 6 months.