Kudu

2025-04-17T10:16:32Z

41.63.248.7: /* Behavior */

{{short description|Two species of antelope of the genus Tragelaphus}}
{{Other uses}}
{{refimprove|date=April 2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
[[File:Kudu (17418137574).jpg|thumb|300x300px|A large male greater kudu]]
[[File:Greater kudu female.jpg|thumb|A female greater kudu]]
[[File:Greater kudu male with females.jpg|thumb|Greater kudu male with females]]
[[File:Male_Lesser_Kudu_in_Kenya.jpg|thumb|Lesser kudu male]]

The '''kudus''' are two species of [[antelope]] of the genus ''[[Tragelaphus]]'':

* [[Lesser kudu]], ''Tragelaphus imberbis'', of eastern Africa
* [[Greater kudu]], ''Tragelaphus strepsiceros'', of eastern and southern Africa
The two species look similar, though greaters are larger than lessers. A large adult male greater kudu stands over {{Convert|5|ft|m}} tall at the shoulder, and a large male lesser kudu stands about {{Convert|4|ft|m}} tall. Males of both species have long horns, which point upward and slightly back, curling in a corkscrew shape.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kudu in Africa! Visit Africa |url=https://visitafrica.site/fauna/kudu/ |access-date=2020-07-17 |website=visitafrica.site |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The name of the animal was imported into English in the 18th century from [[isiXhosa]] ''iqhude'', via [[Afrikaans]] ''koedoe''.

Kudu, or koodoo, is the [[Khoikhoi]] and seTswana name (Tholo is the Setswana name) for this antelope. ''Tragos'' (Greek) denotes a he-goat and ''elaphos'' (Greek) a deer. ''Strepho'' (Greek) means "I twist", and ''strephis'' is "twisting". ''Keras'' (Greek) means "horn".<ref name ="Huffman">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Tragelaphus_strepsiceros.html |last=Huffman |first=Brent |date=March 22, 2004 |title=Tragelaphus strepsiceros - Greater kudu |work=www.ultimateungulate.com |access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref>

==Habitat==
[[Lesser kudu]]s occupy savanna near ''[[Acacia]]'' and ''[[Commiphora]]'' shrubs. They rely on thickets for protection, so they are rarely seen in the open. Their brown and striped pelts help to camouflage them in scrub environments.

== Behavior ==
[[File:Fleeing Kudu at Etosha, Namibia.jpg|thumb|Fleeing Kudu at [[Etosha National Park]] in [[Namibia]]]]
As in many other antelopes, male kudus can be found in [[bachelor group]]s, but they are more likely to be solitary. Their dominance displays tend not to last long and are generally fairly peaceful, consisting of one men making himself look big by making his hair stand on end. When males do have a face-off, they will lock their horns in a competition to determine the stronger puller; kudus' necks enlarge during the mating season for this reason. Sometimes two competing males are unable to unlock their horns and, if unable to disengage, will die of starvation or dehydration. Males are seen with females only in the mating season, when they join in groups of 5–15 kudus, including offspring. Calves grow quickly and at six months are largely independent of their mothers.

A pregnant female will leave the herd to give birth to a single offspring. She will leave the newborn lying hidden for 4–5 weeks while coming back only to nurse it, which is the longest nursing period of any antelope species. Then the calf will start accompanying its mother for short periods. At 3 or 4 months, the calf will be with its mother constantly, and at about six months they will rejoin the group.

When threatened, kudu will often run away rather than fight. Wounded bulls have been known to charge an attacker, hitting the attacker with their sturdy horn base rather than stabbing it. Wounded females can keep running for many miles without stopping to rest for more than a minute. They have a powerful kick and are capable of breaking a [[African wild dog|wild dog]]'s or [[jackal]]'s neck or back. They are good jumpers and can clear a 5-foot fence from a standing start.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}

==Diet==
Kudus are browsers and eat leaves and shoots. In dry seasons they eat wild watermelons and other fruit for their liquid content and natural sugars.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kudu|url=https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/kudu|access-date=2021-06-17|website=African Wildlife Foundation|language=en}}</ref> The lesser kudu is less dependent on water sources than the greater kudu.

==Predators and threats==
Predators, such as [[Panthera leo melanochaita|lions]], [[African leopard|leopards]], [[Cheetah|cheetahs]], [[African wild dog|wild dogs]], [[Spotted hyena|hyenas]], [[Nile crocodile|crocodiles]] and sometimes [[Central African rock python|pythons]], hunt adult kudu or their young. Kudu numbers are also affected by humans hunting them for their meat, hides and horns, or using their habitats for charcoal burning and farming.

Kudus were highly susceptible to the [[rinderpest]] virus (now eradicated after a vaccination program in domestic cattle), and many scientists believe that, in earlier times, recurring epidemics of the disease reduced kudu populations in East Africa.

Kudus are susceptible to [[rabies]] in times of extended drought. They have been known to enter farm houses and other buildings when infected. Infected animals appear tame and have a distinct frothing at the mouth. Rabid kudu are fearless, and bulls may sometimes attack humans who get too close.{{Citation needed|date=January 2014}}

==Meat==
Kudu meat is similar to venison (deer), with a slight gamey, liver-like flavor. It is a very dry and lean meat, so it needs to be cooked carefully to avoid drying it out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://safariguideafrica.com/game-recipe-kudu/ |date=June 15, 2014 |title=Food - How to Cook Kudu – Game Recipe |work=www.safariguideafrica.com |access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref>

==In music and culture==
[[Image:Jemenittisk sjofar av kuduhorn.jpg|thumb|A kudu horn, used by [[Yemenite Jews]] as a [[shofar]] for the holiday of [[Rosh Hashanah]].]]
A kudu horn is a musical instrument made from the horn of the kudu.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/501084 |title=Kudu Horn - late 19th century - South African |work=[[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] |access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref> A form of it is sometimes used as a [[shofar]] in Jewish ceremonies. It is seen in the Western world in its use as a part of the [[Scouting]] movement's [[Wood Badge]] training program; the sounding of the horn signals the start of a Wood Badge training course or activity. A [[Horn (instrument)|horn]] of this shape, when used by football fans, is called ''kuduzela'' (a portmanteau of "kudu" and "[[vuvuzela]]").

The kudu, "tholo" in the languages of [[Sepedi]], [[Setswana]] and [[Venda]], is a tribal totem of the [[Barolong]] and [[Tswana people#South Africa|Batlhaping]] people of Botswana and South Africa.

In the sport of [[kudu dung-spitting]], contestants spit pellets of kudu [[feces|dung]], with the farthest distance (including the roll) reached being the winner. The sport is mostly popular among the [[Afrikaner]] community in [[Sport in South Africa|South Africa]], and a world championship is held each year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2011/08/04/poop-spitting-competition/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516120016/https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2011/08/04/poop-spitting-competition/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 May 2021 |last=Matson |first=Boyd |last2=Shaw |first2=Benjamin |date=August 4, 2011 |title=Poop Spitting Competition |work=[[National Geographic Society]] |access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref>

Kudu-hunting is prominently featured in [[Ernest Hemingway]]'s nonfiction book ''[[Green Hills of Africa]]'', an account of a month-long safari he and his then-wife, [[Pauline Pfeiffer]], went on in East Africa in December 1933.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chamberlain |first1=John |title=Books of The Times |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/99/07/04/specials/hemingway-green2.html |website=archive.nytimes.com |access-date=5 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Reid |first1=Robert |title=Searching for Kudu in the Green Hills of Africa |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/searching-for-kudu-in-the-green-hills-of-africa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017101316/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/searching-for-kudu-in-the-green-hills-of-africa |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2021 |website=National Geographic |access-date=5 June 2023}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Greater kudu]]
* [[Lesser kudu]]
* [[Pudú|Pudu]], an unrelated small deer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category multi|Tragelaphus strepsiceros|Tragelaphus imberbis}}
* [http://www.awf.org/wildlives/146 Kudu: Wildlife summary from the African Wildlife Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517083247/http://www.awf.org/wildlives/146 |date=17 May 2008 }}

{{Artiodactyla|R.4}}

[[Category:Mammals of Africa]]
[[Category:Scouting]]

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Kudu