Greater Kudu: a two-minute wildlife lesson

More African Antelopes · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. A male kudu's horns spiral in two and a half twists. Straightened out, they would average 120 cm long.
2. Those horns take years to grow: the first full spiral forms at about 2 years old, and the full two and a half turns only by age 6.
3. A kudu cannot outrun lions in the open. Instead, it escapes by leaping over bushes and small trees to shake off chasers.
4. Kudus eat leaves, grass and shoots, and sometimes fruit. Oranges and tangerines are firm favourites.
5. A newborn kudu hides in thick plants for about 4 to 5 weeks. By 6 months old, it is already quite independent of its mother.

The quiz

1. How many twists do a male greater kudu's horns usually have?

• Half a twist
• One twist
• Two and a half twists (correct)
• Five twists

Each horn of a bull spirals through two and a half turns.

2. At about what age does a male kudu's horn finish its two and a half turns?

• 6 years (correct)
• 1 month
• 6 months
• 20 years

The full two and a half rotations are only reached at 6 years old.

3. How does a kudu usually shake off a chasing predator?

• By outrunning it on open plains
• By diving into a river
• By climbing a tree
• By leaping over bushes and small trees (correct)

It is not fast enough in the open, so it leaps over shrubs and small trees.

4. Which fruits are kudus especially fond of?

• Oranges and tangerines (correct)
• Coconuts
• Bananas
• Grapes

Oranges and tangerines are fruits kudus especially love.

5. How long does a newborn kudu stay hidden in the plants?

• One day
• About 4 to 5 weeks (correct)
• A whole year
• It is never hidden

The calf stays hidden in thick plants for about 4 to 5 weeks.

More about the Greater Kudu

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries