Mammals: Interesting or Unusual Behaviour

[Dewi]

A breeding herd was crossing the ?Letaba River (does anyone recognise the area as I never noted the exact location at the time). The little calf grabbed onto it's mothers tail with it's trunk. It seemed at the time that the calf was nervous and needed some reassurance.

The herd then went into single file as they came out of the bush to cross the open expanse of the floodplain and the lead female tested the air for possible danger ahead before moving on.





The scene was so perfect it felt as if I was going back in time.

[Dewi]

We came across this Bull as it was dozing quietly. He roused and shook the dust off his back before proceeding to pluck a bush out of the ground to feed on.

[leachy]

this kudu also likes to eat "sausages"

is that what one calls the fruit from the sausage tree??

[Dewi]

Nice Kudu Leachy, your pic shows the spiral horns off at their best. Nice bit of feeding behaviour as well

I mentioned on Mel's TR about recent taxonomy changes, so this is the latest on the Kudu...

Recent studies have shown that there are four distinct Kudu species, with two in the sub-region and two further North,

The Kudu found in the North of the sub-region is now called the Zambezi Kudu Strepciceros zambesiensis while the one found in the southern Cape region is now the Cape Kudu Strepciceros strepciceros

[leachy]

here is another interesting event i witnessed with a kudu.

this chap was having an intense munch of the soil



it continued for quite a while and when he looked up it seemed as though his mouth was all gooey inside ???

any ideas what and why ???????

[Flutterby]

We saw kudus doing the same thing in the Pilanesberg...but didn't see any goo. :D We thought they might be looking for salt?

[Penga Ndlovu]

Kudus, Rhino's and a few other species do that in order to get to the essential minerals they need so badly.

[Amoli]

Soil is also very rich in iron.
With a female you might find that she is pregnant.

[Sprocky]

Strange, but I have only seen this behaviour with Kudu's at Pilanesberg and never in Kruger.

[Dewi]

More great behaviour photos Leachy

Michel367 is correct about getting minerals from the soil to add to those occurring in their diet, but this behaviour also has another purpose in that some of the vegetation that comprises their diet contain toxins, especially some of the leaves. The minerals counteract the toxicity and help them digest more easily.

I read somewhere that Kudu die off in certain areas if kept fenced in in certain habitats as they cannot move to new areas to browse on different leaves. If I come across where I read this again, I'll post more details.

Sprocky, I've only seen this in Pilanesburg as well. I have a photo of a Giraffe at the salt lick somewhere, I'll post it in a moment or two.....