Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level II - The Herbivores - Roan Antelope

Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level II - The Herbivores - Roan Antelope - Page 35

Trophic Level II - The Herbivores
Roan Antelope
Page 35

Hippotragus equinus

Length: 190-240 cm (75-94")

Height: 126-145 cm (50-57")

Tail: 37-48 cm (15-19")

Weight: 223-280 kg (490-617 lb.)female, 242-300 kg (533-661 lb.) male

Status: Rare in the Serengeti and East Africa in general, it is still fairly common in most of its former range. Not threatened.

Habitat: Roan antelopes prefer thinly treed grasslands where there are clumps of trees. They also like to live along the margins of forests and grasslands. They are found in flat floodplains, various woodland and savanna types, montane and plateau grasslands as well.

Roan antelope like areas where there is little competition from other herbivores. They were once widely distributed across northern savannas and woodlands.

They will eat a variety of vegetation and can survive in a variety of different habitats provided that the area is not supporting great numbers of other large herbivores.

In the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, there remains only a small isolated population that resides in the southwest portion of the western corridor of Serengeti National Park. This is believed to be a remnant population that was isolated by climate and vegetation changes. These animals are seldom seen by tourists because their range is well off the normal path.

Food: Roan antelope eat medium to short grasses such as red oat grass and other dominant species in their range. They are grazers but will browse shrubs, herbs and acacia seed pods in the dry season. They must have water on a regular basis.

Social System: Roan antelopes live in small to medium sized herds made up of 6 to 20 adult females and their young. Females share a home range that averages 240 hectares (593 acres). Within this range are the territories of several bulls.

There is little herd loyalty. The age group that spends the most consistent amount of time together are the youngsters. Juveniles will often lag behind the herd in their own group.

Males stay with the herd for three years before being chased off. Then they join bachelor herds for another three years until they are mature and ready to do battle for a territory.

Behavior: Females give birth year round. The minimum time between calves appears to be just under 11 months. They conceive their first calf when they are two years old. After calving, the cow will spend the first five days with her calf before she rejoins the herd. Calves are weaned by the time they are six months old. Roan antelope are active during both the day and night.

Predators: Lion, leopard and spotted hyena are this species’ main enemies. Adult roans, when cornered, will put up a spirited defense and may succeed in foiling a hunt.

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