Despite their name, Waterbucks are actually not aquatic. Rather, they are frequently found in the vicinity of water sources. They will often venture into the water to escape predators 😊
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Today: Waterbuck
Of all large antelopes at Thanda Waterbucks are the shyest. They are specialized to live in wet environments like marshes and they secret a greasy, smelly substance into their pelt to repel water. It smells so bad that even Oxpeckers will never sit on Waterbucks! The ointment also helps with their hooves. Unlike other hoofed animals they do not get foot rot when staying on very wet ground for a long time. Only the males have beautiful straight horns.
Have a good weekend and and stay safe!
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Very alert and very good looking: A Waterbuck bull!
Have a good weekend, stay home and stay safe!
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This is the second of the ten promised Zimanga photography blogs.
This Waterbuck image was taken with late afternoon light at the Lagoon Hide on Zimanga Private Game Reserve. The hide mostly attracts water birds … and some mammals 🙂 . The Lebombo mountains provide an excellent backdrop.
More Zimanga images at https://sperka.info/2015/07/22/reflection-plus-zimanga/
It is not always the Big Five which provide beautiful and special sightings. This Waterbuck bull was looking at us when we drove towards him on Ndlovu Highway. A rare treat.
We got many different antelope species on Thanda. Next to Waterbuck we have Impala, Wildebeest, Nyala, Kudu, Duiker, Steenbok and Reedbuck on the reserve.
… and a little special Waterbuck info: Waterbuck and Elephant are the only two large mammal species on Thanda which will not allow Oxpeckers to sit on them and feast on their ticks (see yesterday’s post:Â https://christiansperka.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/oxpeckers-and-buffalotail/)
Well, the first part of my Trails Guiding Course is over. The picture below shows me dressed for the part and carrying a large caliber rifle (a pre-requisite for a trails guide).
Picture by Andre van Zyl.
Below are a few picture that I took at my last day at the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. (Waterbuck, Kudu and Dwarf Mongoose).
Have a good week!
PS: If you like to know more about the Trails Guiding Course go to http://www.africanaturetraining.co.za. A great experience, even if you do it for fun and not for professional reasons.
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