The Reedbuck is a graceful, whistling antelope of the grasslands,
and particularly of the thickly grown patches of reed and vleis near
rivers, which has earned them their name. They are closely related
to the mountain reedbuck, although the reedbuck prefers grassland
to the mountainous habitat of its relative. Reedbuck tend to use fixed
trails that lead to water, and always approach water very cautiously,
the cows hanging back as sentries, while the males and young drink
first. This natural caution is also apparent while they are resting:
reedbuck don't lie close together, but spread out, their faces turned
cautiously outwards in the direction of any possible danger. Its tawny
coat acts as a perfect camouflage among the reeds and long grass,
and its ability to 'freeze' when it senses danger often helps it escape
the attentions of predators. The reedbuck flatten their ears to minimise
their profile especially when their habitat has been burnt and therefore
have very little vegetative cover. Once discovered, however, they
jump up in alarm, uttering a loud, sharp whistle through their nostrils,
and bound away with the same rocking horse motion used by the grey
rhebok, showing the white underside of their tails.
Reedbuck usually
live in pairs or family parties, although temporary aggregations of
15 - 20 individuals are sometimes seen during the very dry months.
They are almost entirely grazers. Veld fires often sound the death
knell for this elegant antelope. Deprived of its natural camouflage,
it often doesn't have the ability to outrun its enemies, and is easily
brought down by leopards, cheetah and wild dogs. A single calf, born
at any time of year, is hidden by its mother for two to three months;
she returns once a day to suckle it. Similarly to many other antelope,
the calf re-hides itself after its mother has left to prevent scent-trailing
by predators. The mother-calf bond breaks down when the mother is
due to calve again, but if she loses the new calf, the bond may be
re-established.
More facts about Reedbuck
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