Overview
The korrigum is the largest of the topi group (topi, tiang and korrigum) and grows the largest horns. Its general color is a bright reddish orange. The bluish black patches on shoulders, hips and upper legs are less extensive than in the tiang or topi, and the lower legs are much the same color as the body. The bluish black face blaze has a narrow streak running from it below and behind the eye. The tail is fairly short, barely reaching the hocks, with a crest of black hairs on the lower third. The horns (both sexes) are thick, rather short, strongly ringed and lyrate. They rise in a gentle backward curve, diverging slightly, then turning slightly upward at the tips.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Damaliscus
- Species
- Damaliscus lunatus
Habitat
Grasslands and savanna woodlands, sometimes in arid country. Distribution- From Senegal eastward to southern Chad and the northern Central African Republic.
Diet
Exclusively a grazer, able to thrive on dry grasses not eaten by other antelopes. Drinks water, but is able to go without it for long periods.
Behavior
Highly gregarious, it lives in herds of 15-30, sometimes hundreds, or even thousands during seasonal migrations in search of new grass during the early rains. Often mingles with other species such as zebra, wildebeest and hartebeest. Breeding males are territorial during the rut, each defending a well-marked stamping ground against other males, through which females and juveniles wander freely. After the rut the herds split, with males and females forming groups by themselves. Eyesight, hearing and sense of smell are good. A very fast runner, probably as swift as the tsessebe.
Hunting
The korrigum, Damaliscus lunatus korrigum, occurs in small isolated populations in the northern Benin/southern Burkina Faso region where they may not be hunted. They may only be hunted on a Group A savanna hunt in 2 separate areas of northern Cameroon and in northern CAR and southern Chad. Being the largest in the Damaliscus family, the korrigum frequently goes by the name of 'Giant Topi' or 'tsessebe' on trophy lists.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN, although this classification refers to the species as a whole.