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Mammal. Like others of their kind, sable antelope have a social structure based on territory, age, and strength. The strongest adult males, called “bulls,” set up territories in good grazing areas. They constantly patrol, encouraging females to enter and challenging other males. A challenge begins with circling each other, pawing the ground and lashing tails. It ends when the bulls drop to their knees and lock horns. From there it's a pushing contest, and the strongest antelope wins. Females form herds of 5 to 20, sometimes more. Calves are born a grayish-brown color without markings. As they age, their color changes. |
| Scientific
Name |
Lifespan |
| Hippotragus niger |
17 years |
| Diet |
| Herbivore. Grass, herbs, and leaves. Visits salt licks and chews bones for more minerals. They are never too far from water. |
| Predators and Threats |
| Young males are most vulnerable and are sometimes taken by lions, hyenas, hunting dogs, crocodiles, and leopards. Fully-grown adults are usually not bothered except by humans. |
| Habitat |
| Light woodland, especially mixed bush and grassland areas, but avoiding open plains; ranges throughout Central and Southern Africa. |
