Nyala (Nyala angasii or Tragelaphus angasii)
Name
Nyala [Nyala angasii of Tragelaphus angasii]
Order – Artiodactyla
Family – Bovidae
The common name of this antelope is derived from the traditional Zulu word for the animal, inxala.
Appearance
Nyala bulls measure about 1.05 m at the shoulder with a weight of 92 to 126 kg. Cows are much smaller in size, measuring 900 mm at the shoulder with a mass of 55 to 68 kg. Bulls have a striking, charcoal-grey to brownish, shaggy coat, marked with white stripes vertically running down their bodies, are spotted on their flanks, and have white chevron-shaped faces. Only the bulls have horns, which measure about 650 mm in length and curving inward.
Along their underparts, from behind the chin to between the hind legs, runs a ridge of long hairs. From their heads, along the spine to the rump, they have dense, black manes. Cows are chestnut-brown in colour and have stripes on their flanks even more prominent to those of the bulls.
Nyala Diet
This species is both a grazer and a browser. It will readily eat flowers, fruits and leaves – a variety that plays a role in securing its survival.
Nyala Behaviour
Interestingly, juvenile bulls have the appearance of cows. It is suggested that this disguise protects young bulls from jealous dominant bulls, allowing young bulls to grow up safely under the protection of the herd.
Nyala Breeding
After a gestation period of 220 days, a single calf with a weight of 5 kg is born. Twins, although, are not uncommon. They have no specific breeding period, but peaks occur in the months of autumn and spring. The average interim between births is about 297 days. Cows are sexually mature between 14 and 18 months. Bulls navigate their mating opportunities through dominant behaviour.
Nyala Habitat
This is a non-territorial species. The home ranges of both sexes overlap, the ranges of cows being double the size of bulls’. They prefer dense woodlands and thickets close to permanent water sources as their habitat. Nyalas are very elusive animals and are more likely to be spotted at night.
Where They Are Found
Nyalas are found in many game reserves and private farms throughout South Africa as a result of translocation, many living in the Kruger National Park.
Spoor Description
Male spoors can be distinguished from females’ as their forefeet are slightly wider.
10 Incredible Facts About the Nyala
1. Males dwarf the females
Nyala are the most sexually dimorphic antelope in the world. The females are relatively small, weighing between 55 – 68 kg (121 – 150 lbs) by adulthood. Males are double the size!
Standing 110cm at the shoulder, big nyala bulls appear even bigger due to their horns. They weigh up to 125 kg, although that still doesn’t make them one of the 10 largest antelope species in Africa.
2. Grazers…and browsers
A varied diet has helped nyala become widespread across Southern Africa. Most of their food comes from browsing broad-leaved plants. They also strip bark off different trees and will happily graze on grass as well, especially newly sprouted grass. Such diverse eating habits help them survive in all sorts of forests and savannahs.
3. Living in and around woodland areas
Nyala are not very fast. Nor are they particularly strong. Their defense against predators is their camouflage.
Nyala are experts at hide and seek and usually live deep within a woodland or forest. They will only emerge in the morning or afternoon to feed on reeds and grasses. During the hot and wet summer they stay in the forest all day, only coming out after dark.
4. Friends with the monkeys and baboons
Nyala have developed a special bond with baboons and vervet monkeys, their fellow residents in the trees.
The antelope eat all the fruit that is dropped by their primate friends. They can also react to any alarm call made by primates higher in the trees. But what do the monkeys get out of this relationship?
5. The nyala’s incredible high-pitched bark
Nyala are one of Africa’s most alert antelope. They sense danger using their exceptional hearing and smell, as well as by sight.
Nyala look out for each other and when any nyala spots danger, it gives off a striking alarm call.
The sharp, high-pitched sound is almost like a barking dog. It warns others in the group and also gives a warning to baboons and monkeys.
6. Photogenic white stripes
Females and young males are memorable for their striking white stripes. Each nyala has more than ten of these vertical stripes and these are the best feature for distinguishing nyala from kudu.
Females keep their stripes until old age. Males start to lose their stripes from the age of 10 to 12.
It’s believed that juvenile males first develop a coat that can disguise them as females, therefore avoiding any jealous behaviour from larger bulls.
7. A nomadic social structure
Many of Africa’s mammals have clearly defined social structures. For example, impala and buffalo live in harems, the females and calves with one dominant male, then all the bachelors in smaller groups.
Nyala are wanderers. They are the nomads of the antelope world. Although herds can reach up to 30 individuals, they usually live in loose groups of four to eight animals.
All these groups are temporary. Nyala join. Other nyala leave. New groups are formed. A larger bull butts in and kicks out another bull. At the same time, the dominant bull will happily allow other bulls to be in its group, as long as they remain submissive.
A mother maintains a strong bond with her two youngest calves, but she loses touch with older offspring. Males become solitary as they grow older, as they are fended away from joining new groups.
8. A non-territorial antelope
Does this nomadic behaviour mean that nyala are social or not? They certainly shy away from strong social bonds.
Nyala don’t have clearly defined territories either. The groups wander around and don’t attempt to protect an area from others.
9. Double twisted horns for fighting
Males develop horns from a young age. It’s only when they reach full maturity that these horns develop the trademark double twist. Look closely at the horns and you will notice they have a peculiar yellow tip – researchers still don’t know why, perhaps it’s just for aesthetics.
These horns are used in battles to decide dominance and hierarchy within a group. Bulls thrash their horns in the air, demonstrating the weapons at their disposal. They try to exaggerate their size and power, lifting their head high and posing before a rival.
10. Savage and fatal battles between bulls
Battles are dramatic and brutal. Over 100 kilograms of force crashes into a rival, with the spiked horns often drawing blood.
Bulls keep fighting until one backs down. Upon defeat, a bull will turn away and wag his tail in a show of submission.
Some of these battles are fatal, through concussions or wounds that later become infected.