Nyala: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Antelopes of Africa · day 7 of 7

Five facts

1. Males and females look like different animals. Males are dark grey with horns; females are rusty brown with white stripes and no horns.
2. A male can weigh up to 125 kg, while a female weighs no more than 68 kg.
3. Hairy glands on its feet leave a trail of scent everywhere it walks.
4. Nyala warn each other with a sharp, dog-like bark. They also heed the alarm calls of impalas, baboons and kudus, and impalas listen to theirs.
5. A newborn weighs about 5 kg. Its mother keeps it hidden for up to 18 days and comes back regularly to nurse it.

The quiz

1. Which nyala has rusty brown fur with white stripes and no horns?

• The old male
• The adult female (correct)
• Every adult nyala
• None of them

Females are rusty brown with stripes, and only males have horns.

2. How heavy can a male nyala be?

• Up to 12 kg
• Up to 30 kg
• Up to 1,000 kg
• Up to 125 kg (correct)

Males weigh 98 to 125 kg, far more than females.

3. What do the hairy glands on a nyala's feet leave behind?

• Its scent (correct)
• Seeds
• Sticky mud
• Bright marks

They leave the nyala's scent wherever it walks.

4. What does a nyala's warning call sound like?

• A low roar
• A soft purr
• A sharp, dog-like bark (correct)
• A long whistle

It gives a sharp, high bark like a dog's, mostly used by females.

5. For how long can a nyala calf stay hidden after birth?

• Only one hour
• Up to 18 days (correct)
• A whole year
• It is never hidden

The calf stays hidden for up to 18 days while its mother nurses it.

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