Hartebeest
Description and Identification:
Shoulder height: Hartebeest males 1,25
Hartebeest females 1,10
Body mass: Hartebeest males 150 kg
Hartebeest females 120 kg
- from reddish brown to yellowish fawn
- Saddle of darker color from shoulder broadening towards the tail base
- Saddle is more distinctive in the males
- Forehead is black
- Patch of reddish brown hair across the face between and in front of the eyes and a black band down the muzzle.
- Hartebeest shoulders – distinctive hump
- Hartebeest horns are on top of the head
- Horns are close together at base – rising up and back towards the end
- Both sexes carry horns
Social behavior of Hartebeest :
- Herds – 20 individuals or larger
- Males are territorial during rut
- Mark territories with dung
- Defend territories against trespassers
- Hartebeest female herds move more widely
- Hartebeest bachelor herds – males of all sizes
- Sometimes solitaire bulls are found
- Active – early morning and late afternoon
- Hartebeest rest during midday
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When disturbed – run off in bounding gallop, swerving from side to side .