Nyala

Nyala are the most sexually dimorphic antelope in the world. The females are relatively small, weighing between 55 – 68 kg (121 – 150 lbs) by adulthood. Males are double the size! Standing 110cm at the shoulder, big nyala bulls appear even bigger due to their horns. They weigh up to 125 kg, although that still doesn’t make them one of the

A varied diet has helped nyala become widespread across Southern Africa. Most of their food comes from browsing broad-leaved plants. They also strip bark off different trees and will happily graze on grass as well, especially newly sprouted grass. Such diverse eating habits help them survive in all sorts of forests and savannahs..

Nyala are not very fast. Nor are they particularly strong. Their defense against predators is their camouflage.
Nyala are experts at hide and seek and usually live deep within a woodland or forest. They will only emerge in the morning or afternoon to feed on reeds and grasses. During the hot and wet summer they stay in the forest all day, only coming out after dark.

Nyala have developed a special bond with baboons and vervet monkeys, their fellow residents in the trees.
The antelope eat all the fruit that is dropped by their primate friends. They can also react to any alarm call made by primates higher in the trees. But what do the monkeys get out of this relationship?

Nyala are one of Africa’s most alert antelope. They sense danger using their exceptional hearing and smell, as well as by sight. Nyala look out for each other and when any nyala spots danger, it gives off a striking alarm call.
The sharp, high-pitched sound is almost like a barking dog. It warns others in the group and also gives a warning to baboons and monkeys.

They need this warning call because nyala are on the dinner menu for the three most impressive African predators.
In general they are a little small for a lion, especially given how hard they are to locate and catch. Mostly it is bachelor lion prides who will go after them, rather than larger prides.

Nyala are perfect for leopards, who also live in the trees. They are also hunted by packs of wild dogs in the Okavango Delta and northern Botswana.

Females and young males are memorable for their striking white stripes. Each nyala has more than ten of these vertical stripes and these are the best feature for distinguishing nyala from kudu.Females keep their stripes until old age. Males start to lose their stripes from the age of 10 to 12.It’s believed that juvenile males first develop a coat that can disguise them as females, therefore avoiding any jealous behaviour from larger bulls.

Does this nomadic behaviour mean that nyala are social or not?

They certainly shy away from strong social bonds. Nyala don’t have clearly defined territories either.

Double twisted horns for fighting Males develop horns from a young age. It’s only when they reach full maturity that these horns develop the trademark double twist. Look closely at the horns and you will notice they have a peculiar yellow tip – researchers still don’t know why, perhaps it’s just for aesthetics.

These horns are used in battles to decide dominance and hierarchy within a group. Bulls thrash their horns in the air, demonstrating the weapons at their disposal. They try to exaggerate their size and power, lifting their head high and posing before a rival.