Crawshay’s waterbuck

Crawshay’s waterbuck

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Common name:

Crawshay’s waterbuck

Scientific name:

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Alternative common names:


Description:

This waterbuck is a largeantelopefound widely insub-Saharan Africa. It is a ruminant, feeding almost exclusively on grass and forbs. Crawshay’s waterbuck is susceptible toulcers,lungworm infectionandkidney stones. Other diseases from which this animal suffers arefoot-and-mouth disease,sindbis fever,yellow fever,bluetongue,bovine virus diarrhoea,brucellosisandanthrax.

Additional Information


Where does this species come from?

South-east Africa (including countries such as Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda).

What is its invasive status in South Africa?

NEMBA Category 2.

Where in South Africa is it a problem?

Mpumalanga, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.

How does it spread?

Waterbuck spread when hunted for sport and by other predators.

Why is it a problem?

In competition with cattle for grazing.

What does it look like?

Description: Waterbuck have a head-body length of 180-220cm, they weigh 150-250kg, with males 25% larger than females. They stand 100-130cm at the shoulder. They have a coarse reddish brown fur with white around the muzzle and eyes, a white band around the neck and a distinctive white ring around the rump. Only males have long, forward-curved horns that are 55-100cm long.

Habitat: Savannah, scrub and woodland within a few kilometres of water, it is always within reach of permanent water.

Breeding: Males become sexually mature at the age of six years; females reach maturity within two to three years. Females may conceive by the age of two-and-a-half years, and remain reproductive for another 10 years. In equatorial regions, breeding takes place throughout the year, and births are at their peak in the rainy season.

Leave a Reply