Overview
The male common nyala is a medium-sized antelope of striking appearance. It is slender, with a narrow but deep body, and a shaggy, slate-brown coat. Younger males have up to 14 vertical white stripes on each side, but in older animals these are reduced to three or four, or may even be absent. There are white spots on hindquarters and cheeks, a white band on the lower neck, and a white facial chevron. A partially erectile dorsal crest of long hairs extends from the back of the head to the root of the tail-dark brown on the neck and white along the back. A very long, dark mane grows from throat to belly, and the hindquarters are fringed with long dark hairs. The tail is dark brown on top and white underneath. Lower legs are orange. Ears are large. Horns are grown by males only. They are dark with ivory tips, keeled in front and back, and spiral upward in a open curve of 1-1/2 to 2 turns. Females are very different from males. They are much smaller, without horns, orange in color, with distinct white body stripes and no facial chevron. There is a short, dark dorsal crest, but no mane underneath. (A female common nyala is rather similar in appearance to a juvenile bongo.) Young nyala males are like females, gradually assuming adult coloration.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Tragelaphus
Habitat
Dense bush in low country. It chooses places with good quality grasslands as well as a provision of fresh water. They also inhabit lush green river country.
Diet
Primarily a browser of leaves and fruit, but also grazes at times.
Behavior
Usually found in small groups, though herds of as many as 30 have been seen. Females and young are usually in groups of about six, young males are in smaller groups, while old bulls tend to be solitary or in pairs. Not territorial. During the rut, males compete for females by displaying and by sparring with their horns, but serious fights are rare. A single calf is usually born in August after seven months gestation. Active mainly in morning and evening. Senses of smell and hearing are good, eyesight only fair. An excellent vertical jumper, able to clear the usual high game fence.
Hunting
Because of its shyness and thick habitat, the common nyala would be very difficult to hunt were it not for the many roads or tracks that traverse hunting areas today. The usual method is to drive slowly along such roads in the early morning and, especially, just before sundown. At these times nyala will move into openings where they can be glassed, and respectable trophies can often be taken rather easily. However, for better horns, the degree of difficulty increases appreciably, because these are carried by the older, wiser bulls. In areas where nyala must be hunted entirely on foot in trackless bush, they are very challenging game animals.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN. Currently efforts are being made to retain the populations of nyala in Gorongosa National Park and Banhine National Park in Mozambique. Their numbers increase in areas that draw in money from photo and hunting tourism.