habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
This species is commonly associated with dense thickets and open thicket woodland mosaics in savannah woodland habitats or dry forests and thickets in riverine woodlands. Generally, home ranges occur near water, and may expand into open grasslands, floodplains or vleis (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). When disturbed, Nyala will retreat to the cover of dense thickets, and, in particularly vulnerable or disturbed environments, they will only roam into open areas at night (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). In KwaZulu-Natal, this species was traditionally restricted to coastal lowlands and riverine bushveld, up to altitudes of 200 m asl (Rowe-Rowe 1994).
This species is considered an intermediate mixed feeder (Hofmann 1988), consuming leaves, grasses (only when green and short), flowers, twigs and fruits (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Nyala will drink water daily if available, but can survive successfully in in areas where no water in present for parts of the year (Anderson 2013). Following periods of rainfall, when grasses are most succulent, they constitute a large proportion of the Nyalaâs diet (Van Rooyen 1990, 1992). The Fever Tree (Vachellia xanthophloea), the Mustard Tree (Salvadora persica), Tambotie (Spirostachys africana), the Monkey Orange (Strychnos spp.) and the Buffalo Thorn (Ziziphus mucronata) were listed as important food sources for Nyala in Mozambique (Tello & Van Gelder 1975). Important grass species include Digiteria eriantha, Panicum coloratum, P. maximum and Urochloa mosambicensis (Skinner & Chimimba 2005).
Although Nyala breed throughout the year, a major peak in birth rate occurs from August to December, and a minor peak takes place in May (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Females reach sexual maturity after about 14 months, while males are only considered to be socially sexually mature at about five years of age (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Following a gestation period of 220 days, a single calf is born (twins are rare) usually in the shelter of closed thickets and commonly weighs between 4.2 and 5.5 kg (Tello & Van Gelder 1975). Lactation continues for a period of about seven months (Anderson 1984).
Ecosystem and cultural services: From a functional point of view, Nyala can be useful as browsers, as many farms have severe bush encroachment (Power 2014). It is a popular trophy hunting species, as well as being a visible and pretty game species for ecotourism.
