Tag: brown

The waterbuck is the largest of the kob antelopes. It is known for its trademark white ring around the hindquarters which they use as a ‘follow me’ sign. If one of the group spots a predator and runs, the rest will follow to avoid becoming prey. Only the males have horns which are handsome, long and prominently ringed, sweeping backwards and up. The eyes and nose of the Waterbuck have beautiful white markings and it has a noticeable white collar under the throat line. Waterbuck have a brownish–grey shaggy coat with a lot of hair around their necks. This neck hair is hollow which allows for extra buoyancy when swimming, helping them to keep their heads above water. Waterbuck give off a strong scent that can be smelt even by humans, which is believed to deter certain predators. Waterbuck prefer an open, dry countryside with savanna grassland, bushveld and even hilly areas as long as it is close to water, like rivers or dams. They are often found in reed beds near rivers and also on floodplains. They never live far from permanent water sources.