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Specie Name
: IMPALA
Scientific
Name : Aepyceros
melampus
Description
:
Reddish-brown with paler bands on the
lower sides and a white belly.
Seen from behind, there is a vertical black line down the back of each
haunch, as well as down the tail.
Black tufts behind the ankles on the rear legs.
The black-faced impala occurs in the north of Namibia.
Horns:
Males only.
Graceful, heavily ridged, lyre-shaped horns, growing backwards and out, then
sweeping forward
and slightly inwards.
Mass:
Males 55 - 75kg
females 40 - 55 kg.
Habitat :
Prefer short or grazed grass in woodland
and avoid long grass.
Behavior :
Herds of 10 - 30 or more.
Bachelor herds and female herds with offspring during the mating season adult
males are territorial and each attempts to gather a
harem and dispel
competitors.
Mainly diurnal, preferring more open terrain at night.
Often found with other species. Feed on grass as well as leaves and drink
twice daily.
Lamb in Nov/Des, occasionally yielding twins.
Hunt Method :
Abundant and a staple for the hunter.
During the rut (April - June) males get involved in noisy fights with
competitors and are then less alert.
Otherwise impala possess ready senses, although the are
tamer in the beginning of the hunting season
than when they are hunted
regularly.
When alarmed, they scatter and flee with graceful flying leaps of up to 10m
long and 3m high, but sometimes
the odd one may hesitate out of curiosity.
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