Waterbuck
Despite its name, the waterbuck is not truly aquatic
nor as much at home in water and swamps as is the sitatunga or lechwe.
It does, however, take refuge there to escape predators.
Physical Characteristic
The waterbuck has a long-haired, often shaggy brown-gray coat that
emits a smelly, greasy secretion thought to be for waterproofing.
In East Africa two types occur, the common waterbuck and the defassa
waterbuck, distinguished only by the white pattern on the rump. The
common waterbuck has a conspicuous white ring encircling a dark rump,
while the defassa has wide white patches on either side of the rump.
The waterbuck is a large, robust animal; males are generally about
25 percent larger than the females. Waterbucks have large, rounded
ears and white patches above the eyes, around the nose and mouth
and on the throat. Only the males have horns, which are prominently
ringed and as long as 40 inches. The horns are widely spaced and
curve gracefully back and up. They are sometimes used with lethal
results when males fight one another over territories.
Habitat
As its name would indicate, the waterbuck inhabits
areas that are close to water in savanna grasslands, gallery forests
and riverine woodlands south of the Sahara. Such habitats not only
provide sustenance but long grasses and watery places in which to
hide from predators.
Behavior
Although males do compete for and hold territories, the
waterbuck is generally a quiet, sedentary animal. Like some other
antelopes, the male does not mark his territory with dung or urine,
as his presence and smell are apparently sufficient. He tries to retain
females that wander into his area, but is seldom successful for long,
since the females have large home ranges and, in herds of five to
25, are constantly crossing in and out of males territories. Waterbucks
do not migrate or move great distances, so territories are usually
held year round.
Diet
The waterbuck's habitat furnishes them with a year-round
source of food. Mainly grazers, they consume types of coarse grass
seldom eaten by other grazing animals and occasionally browse leaves
from certain trees and bushes. They feed in the mornings and at night,
and rest and ruminate the remainder of the time.
Caring for the Young
Calves are generally born throughout the year, although
breeding becomes more seasonal in some areas, after which a single
young is born. The mother hides her young for about 3 weeks, returning
three to four times a day to suckle it. Each suckling session lasts
only about five minutes, during which time the mother cleans the calf
so that no odor is left to attract predators. Even so, there is a
high rate of calf mortality.
Although the calves begin to eat grass when they are young, they
are nursed for as long as 6 to 8 months. After weaning, they begin
to wander-off young males often form all-male groups near the occupied
territories, while the young females stay in their mother's group.
The waterbuck does not reach adult weight until about 31/2 years.
Females mate again soon after bearing young (within 2 to 5 weeks)
so the population can increase rapidly.
Predators
Hyenas, lions, and leopards are the major predators, but
crocodiles, hunting dogs and cheetahs also take waterbuck.
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