The Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) is a large African ungulate featured in the Standard Edition of Planet Zoo.
Zoopedia Description[]
General[]
Population in the Wild: 32,000
The nyala (or Tragelaphus angasii) is a secretive antelope that, lives in the thick undergrowth of the South-Eastern African savanna. They are sexually dimorphic, with males much larger than females; the former has a dark grey shaggy coat, yellow legs and twisted, yellow tipped horns, whereas the latter are tan in colour. Both sexes also have vertical white stripes on their back.
Males measure between 0.9 and 1.1m tall, 1.35 to 1.95m long, and weigh 98 to 125 kg. Females are between 0.75 and 0.9m tall, 1.35m to 1.95m long, and weigh between 50 and 68kg.
Social[]
Female nyala live in small groups with their offspring and forage through the undergrowth together. Adult males are solitary, living alone except for during the mating season, when they temporarily join a female herd.
Reproduction[]
During the mating season, a male will join a female herd, courting the females by approaching them with his head and horns bowed down in a non-threatening posture. It's possible that multiple males may often try to join the same female herd, and if so this will result in a performative display; males circling each other and making their hair stand on end while holding their tails and horns up high, in order to make themselves look as big as possible.
If this results in a stalemate, the males will fight and the victor will remain with the female herd, mating with the individuals if they are receptive. The mother will give birth to a single calf after a 7 month pregnancy and the calves will remain close by until they are around 18 months old, at which point the males will leave and become solitary. Females remain with their mother's herd.
Animal Care[]
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Hay · Herbivore Pellets · Fruit and Vegetables | |
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FOOD ENRICHMENT |
HABITAT ENRICHMENT |
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Trivia[]
Zoopedia Fun Facts[]
- Unlike many antelope species, nyala are extremely reliant on water and need to drink daily. They always live near a water source.
- Nyala produce a dog-like bark to alert other group members of danger.
- Nyala males are called 'bulls' and nyala females are called 'ewes'. This is because the large size difference between sexes in this species. The terms 'bull' and 'doe' are used for large antelope species, and 'ram' and 'ewe' for small antelope species. Male and female nyala fit into different categories.
- Nyala are crepuscular animals; they forage during dusk and dawn, and rest and sleep during the heat of the day.
- Nyala have excellent hearing and will listen for the warning calls of baboons and impala to remain aware of threats.
Gallery[]
.jpg "Gondola (2).jpg (236 KB)")
.jpg "Vet nyala (2).jpg (128 KB)")
References[]