habitat_narrative

Terrestrial

Roan Antelope inhabit savannah woodlands and grasslands within the bushveld and Lowveld of southern Africa and prefer habitats with a cover of high grasses and woody plants (Dorgeloh 1998; Knoop & Owen-Smith 2006), which play an important role for both grazing and calving (Chardonnet & Crosmary 2013). As such, they may be especially sensitive to changes in grass height and composition, as Roan Antelope rely on grass to camouflage their young and for foraging (Havemann et al. 2016). Roan Antelope are most abundant in moist or dystrophic savannas and sandveld woodlands where soils are predominantly infertile (Heitkönig & Owen-Smith 1998), such as Terminalia sericea and Philenoptera nelsii woodlands. They are water-dependent grazer/browsers, foraging at the boundary between ephemeral wetland and savannahs (for example, in the northern plains of KNP, Kröger & Rogers 2005). They currently only occur in the northern plains of KNP (Owen-Smith et al. 2012), but previously occurred throughout the park. Vlei grasslands are a key resource area in certain areas like the KNP, where Themeda triandra and Panicum maximum are important key resource grasses used during the dry season (Knoop & Owen-Smith 2006). They also show a preference for sandveld woodlands with predominantly infertile soils (Heitönig & Owen-Smith 1998). Habitats that have low densities of competitor and predator species appear to be crucial for their survival (Havemann et al. 2016).

Ecosystem and cultural services: Roan Antelope is a flagship species in the Waterberg. It is also a valuable trophy hunting species.