Large and Small …

Many antelope species in various sizes can be found at my two favorite places in KwaZulu Natal, Thanda and Pakamisa. From the small and very cute Sunis (35cm – 15” shoulder height) to the large and impressive Kudus (155cm – 61” shoulder height).

For all the small antelopes, the males are called bucks and the females are called ewes, and for the large ones, they are called bulls and cows.

Today’s picture shows an Nyala male in high grass (_image taken yesterday at Pakamisa_). It is interesting to note that this is the only antelope species where the males are called bulls and the females are called ewes. This may be because sexual dimorphism (difference between male and female) is more distinct in Nyalas than in any other antelope species.

Here is the list of antelope species found on Thanda Safari and Pakamisa Private Game Reserve in order of their size:

THE SMALL ONES

*Bucks/Ewes*

⁃ Suni (35cm ~ 14”)

⁃ Natal Red Duicker (48cm ~ 19”)

⁃ Steenbok (50cm ~ 20”)

⁃ Klipspringer (60cm ~ 24”)

⁃ Grey Duicker (68cm ~ 27”)

THE LARGE ONES

*Bucks/Ewes*

⁃ Mountain Reedbuck (84cm ~ 33”)

⁃ Common Reedbuck (90cm ~ 35”)

⁃ Impala (90cm ~ 35”)

*Bull/Ewe*

⁃ Nyala (120cm ~ 47”)

*Bull/Cow*

⁃ Waterbuck (130cm ~ 51”)

⁃ Blue Wildebeest (150cm ~ 59”)

⁃ Kudu (155cm – 61”)

()= max shoulder heights (ref. Stuarts’ Field Guide to Southern Africa)

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 25600 | 1/500sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 35% of original image

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