habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
Preferred habitat includes mixed scrub woodland (OâKane et al. 2013), Acacia, and Mopane bush on lowlands, hills, and mountains. It is one of the few large mammals that can exist in settled areas, such as in the scrub woodland and bush that reclaims abandoned fields and degraded pastures (IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2016). They are browsers and can exist for long periods without drinking, obtaining sufficient moisture from their food, but become water dependent at times when the vegetation is very dry (Valeix et al. 2011; Owen-Smith 2013). In Limpopo, Mopane (Colophospermum mopane) leaves contributed most significantly (47% of intake) in the dry season (Makhado et al. 2016). Overlap in resource use with other browsers has been reported, and it might be higher in areas where kudu are synoptic with similar sized species such as Nyala (du Toit 1990; OâKane et al. 2011). However, kudu have been observed forage mainly on branch ends while Nyala forage mainly on shoots and mature leaves. This species has been introduced into many extra-limital areas, including areas of Texas, USA where it may compete with native White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for browse forage (Gray et al. 2007). The home range of a typical kudu herd ranges from 7.9â24 km2 (Owen-Smith 1979; du Toit 1990).
Ecosystem and cultural services: Key species for the sustainable, wildlife-based economy.
