Defassa Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa
Characteristics
- Origin
Africa, from Ethiopia to Senegal in the east and Angola in the south
- Habitat
scrub and grasslands close to rivers and lakes
- Diet
grasses, foliage and aquatic plants
- Status
near threatened
- Size
1,20 up to 1,40 m (shoulder height)
- Weight
Male: 200 to 300 kg
Female: 160 - 200 kg - Gestation period
255 to 260 days
- Achievable age
up to 12 years in the wild, up to 20 years in human care
Threat Categories of IUCN
Maternity leave
After birth, baby waterbucks stay hidden in the tall, protective grasses for around four weeks before mother and child re-join the herd. The calves stay with their mothers for around 9 months.
