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Sitatunga
Tragelaphus spekei
central and western Africa

Measurements

Weight: 40 - 120kg
Length: 1.1 -1.7m
Height: 1.25 - 1.75m

Diet

Leaves, buds, shoots, fruit, reeds, and grasses.

Identification

Males are a dark brown colour with horns. Females are a reddish-brown and have prominant white strips on the flanks.

Behaviour

Spending most of its time among papyrus beds in swamps, the sitatunga's hoofs are well adapted to prevent them sinking into mud. Sitatunga are excellent swimmers. They have been known to submerge themselves completely with only their nostrils above the water. Whilst they are both nocturnal and diurnal, they are most active at dawn and dusk.

 

Distribution & Habitat

Swamp forests and marshes in Central and Western Africa.

Reproduction

Gestation Period: 7 months
Young per Birth: 1
Breeding occurs throughout the year, and the young lie in concealment on raised reed beds. 		Our group of sitatunga at the Wildlife Park live in a paddock along with guanaco, capybara and rheas. Click here to browse the park map.

Conservation

IUCN: Near-threatened

No Captive Breeding Programmes assigned to this species at present.