African
Adventures Male nyala are a sepia brown color that slowly gets darker with age, while females are of a pale liver color with a scattering of spots and stripes. The mountain nyala weighs up to 300 kg (660 lb) and stands approximately 135 cm (53") at the shoulder. It is found in a mosaic of high-altitude woodland, bush, heath , moorland and valley-bottom grassland, from 3000 m (9800') up to 4200 m (13,800').
The nyala eats herbs and shrubs and occasionally grass, lichens, ferns and fallen leaves. Seasonal movement occurs, but it is not extensive. It consists mainly of change in altitude - to lower ground in the rainy season and to higher moorlands in the dry season. Nyala living in forest may emerge into more open areas to feed at night. During the dry season, between January and March, most Nyala live above the forest edge. Females accompanied by one or two generations of young form frequent but impermanent associations with other mother-young groups. These are regularly joined or monitored by adult males.
Natives of the area hunt it for meat and purported medicinal purposes. The lower reaches of its range are more suited to the species than the upper less-vegetated areas, but in most parts of its range, the more suitable habitat has been taken over for cultivation and pastoralism.
The mountain nyala was first documented by Western scientists about 1910.
It is said that natives of the area where the mountain nyala
occurs shoot female nyala in the belief that the urine is a cure
for syphilis
Size and Weight :
The Nyala stands approximately 135 cm (53") at the shoulder. The female mountain nyala weighs 150 - 200 kg (330 - 440 lb); the male weighs 180 - 300 kg (400 - 660 lb)
Habitat:
The nyala is found in a mosaic of high-altitude woodland, bush, heath , moorland and valley-bottom grassland, from 3000 m (9800') up to 4200 m (13,800'). Stragglers occur as low as 1800 m (6000'). The lower reaches of the mountains, around 3000 m (9800'), Between the lower edge of the woodlands and the riverine grasslands, are preferred over the upper, less vegetated areas. The woodlands, heath and bush provide dry-season refuge. During the rainy season there is a greater choice of pasture at lower levels, but only where the habitat has not been converted to other uses. The sedgy grasslands tend to be waterlogged and animals have even been seen eating water plants.
Age to Maturity:
Female calves are pregnant by age 2 years
Gestation Period:
8 - 9 months
Birth Season:
Mating peaks in December and most births occur in the rainy season.
Birth Rate:
A single young is born per season
Early Development:
A young nyala stays closely attached to its mother for as long as 2 years, by which time female calves are themselves pregnant and males join bachelor groups.
Diet:
The nyala eats herbs and shrubs and occasionally grass, lichens , ferns and fallen leaves.
Behavior:
Seasonal movement occurs, but it is not extensive. It consists mainly of change in altitude - to lower ground in the rainy season and to higher moorlands in the dry season.Nyala living in forest may emerge into more open areas to feed at night. During the dry season, between January and March, most nyala live above the forest edge.
nyala are more active from 16:00 - 08:00 hours, but they may also be seen feeding between 08:00 and 16:00 hours, especially about 12:00 - 13:00 hours.
Social Organization:
Females accompanied by one or two generations of young form frequent but impermanent associations with other mother-young groups. These are regularly joined or monitored by adult males. Numbering up to 13, such groupings tend to be smaller in the dry season, when they range very widely.
Average herd size: 6 . It appears that even when the nyala was much more common, the average herd size was not much larger. In fact the herd sizes have apparently not changed appreciably in many years.
Age and Gender Distribution:
In one study ( Brown 1969 ) , of 252 animals considered to be accurately sexed, 37 (14.7%) were males, 170 (67.8%) were females, and 44 (17.3% ) were calves. The indicated percentage of males was considered probably to be on the low side, since older males in particular are more secretive and harder to locate.
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