Uganda Kob (Kobus kob thomasi)
Size:
Head and body length: 160 – 180 cm
Shoulder height:
82 – 100 cm
Weight: Female
60 – 77 kg; Male 85 – 121 kg
Description:
A medium-sized antelope with
a reddish-brown upper coat and bright white underparts. Males darken with age.
White eye rings, inner ears, throat. The outer sides of the legs
have a vertical black stripe running down the length. Tail has a black
tip. Horns are found only on males.
Breeding:
Gestation is 8-months, with one young born at a time. First six weeks are spent in hiding, after
which they join the herd at the grazing ground.
After 3-4 months, young join female herds and
associate with mothers until weaned at 6-7 months (males) or up to 9 months
(females)
Where to look for them:
Floodplains or other
low-lying or gently rolling grasslands.
They are water-dependent, so will always be near permanent water
sources, sometimes using the same water hole for years. They prefer areas where the grass has been
kept short by fire or by the trampling of larger animals like buffalo.
What to notice:
- These animals are the ultimate “lion
detectors.” If you see a herd of
them all looking intently in one direction, stick around for a while and
see if any lions appear. Following
the adage that “the devil seen is better than the devil unseen,” kob will
actually follow lions so they will not lose sight of them, and if a
predator does attack, the males will turn and face the threat rather than
run.
Conservation Status:
Kob are considered to be at
low-risk of extinction, but are dependent on conservation efforts such as the
maintenance of protected areas. They multiply
quickly and convert grass to meat efficiently, so there may be possibilities of
domestication.
Lifespan: Up to 17 years
The photo below is of a rare black-and-white morph Uganda kob. It is unlikely that this male will ever mate to pass on his genes, as he is treated as an outcast by the rest of the herd.
Photos by Mark Jordahl