Tall and imposing with spectacular horns, this animal is one of the most sought-after trophies in Africa. The Cudu(Tragelaphus strepsiceros), also known as Kudu, definitely ranks as one of the most beautiful species to be seen on a classic safari in Tanzania, along with the African lion,elephant and cheetah, and they are nothing more than large African antelopes with long and majestic antlers.
Cudus are divided into major and minor, Tragelaphus strepsiceros and Tragelaphus imberbis, and are African ruminants that both live in the forested areas of East Africa. Their beauty and long horns have made them some of the most sought-after prey in Africa. Even Ernest Hemingway praised the Greater Cudu, dubbing this shy and elusive animal “the gray ghost.”
Despite the majestic and enchanting appearance of this animal, a member of the Bovidae family, the Kudu is sadly known as the leading cause of rabies in the areas in which it lives.
Etymology of the name
Kudu, cudu in English, or koodoo, is the Khoikhoi name, the language of a West African ethnic group, used to refer to this antelope.
“Tragos” (Greek) refers to a goat, and “elaphos” (Greek) to a deer; “strepho” (Greek) means “spiral,” while “strephis” means “twist”; “Keras” (Greek), on the other hand, refers to the animal’s horn. Hence the name Tragelaphus strepsiceros.
Characteristics of the Greater Kudu
(
) The greater kudu stands about 1–1.5 meters at the withers and is a rather sturdy and heavy animal. Males, in fact, weigh between 190 and 270 kg, up to a maximum of 315 kg, while females weigh on average between 120 and 210 kg. Furthermore, female kudus are completely devoid of antlers and do not have the typical markings around their noses.
The smooth short coat varies in color, from gray to grayish brown, with some grayer shades and a darker neck in the breeding season. Both sexes have a short mane from the top of the head to the shoulders, where it forms a ridge and continues down the spine.
Distinctive features include a white mark shaped like a hook that extends from the eyes across the upper nose and, in some cases, all the way to the large pink ears. There are numerous white markings, including 6–10 vertical stripes across the back and on the flanks, variable white patches on the sides of the face, and black patches on the upper lip and chin. The tail is thick and black with a white tip on the underside, and there are black “garter-like” markings on the upper part of the legs.
Here you can see a video, shot by Rob The Ranger Wildlife, capturing a beautiful moment in the life of Greater Cudus, namely an antler fight:
Only males have horns growing from the top of the head in broad spirals with a distinct crest along their length, slightly diverging and sloping back from the head. The spirals are normally 2/3 . The average length of the horns is between 40 – 56 cm “with lengths exceeding 58 cm but are very rare. These well-shaped horns have long been prized in Africa for use as musical instruments, containers, and symbolic ritual objects. Although rare, there have been cases of female Cudu horns growing as opposed to males.
Adult specimens are active both during the day and at night. Usually, these animals form small flocks consisting of about ten individuals of the same sex.
Characteristics of the Lesser Kudu
(
) As its name suggests, this species is smaller than the greater kudu; in fact, it reaches, on average, about one meter at the withers, with slight differences in height (about 5–10 cm) between males and females. Male lesser kudus weigh 92–108 kg, while females weigh 56–70 kg—a significantly lower weight.
Male Imberbis have a coat tending to grayish-brown, while the coat of females is the typical brown color of antelopes. Indifferent to sex, however, lesser Kudu have coats painted by precisely 10 white stripes. Herds of the Lesser Kudu are mainly active from dusk to dawn and consist of 2-5 members of both sexes.
The preferred habitat of the kudu
The habitat preferred by both the greater and lesser kudus consists of mixed forests of acacia and shrubs on plains, hills, and mountains. The lesser and greater kudu live in the forested areas of East Africa, where they feed on grasses and leaves.
Predators of the Kudu
Kudus are preyed upon by a number of predators, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, and the large python; the latter typically hunts the smallest kudus. Tragelaphus are capable of running very fast, but they often struggle against large predators. Their strength lies in their great agility: they can jump with relative ease through the forest, where large carnivorous predators find it difficult to pursue them. The kudu often hides in the woods until the predator has finally given up on hunting it.
Behavior and Social Organization
Kudus live in small herds, usually consisting of 10–12 members, though some herds can number as many as 24 individuals. Cudu herds are mainly composed of females and their young, while male Cudus, on the other hand, tend to be more solitary, joining the females only when it is time to mate. It is known that groups of up to 8 male Cudù will form a herd, but this is very rare.
The Cudu mating season occurs at the end of the rainy season. The gestation period is about 8 months after which the female Cudu normally gives birth to a single Cudu cub. Cubs tend to be born around February and March, when the grass is at its highest and there is plenty of food to help the baby kudu grow.
Kudu have benefited and suffered from contact with humans. Humans find the kudu an easy target for hunting due to the fact that they tend to stop and look around after their escape, while some tribes and local people believe that the kudu is a sacred animal and therefore tend to protect it rather than kill it.
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