Johann (Sasolburg, RSA.)
Alert Impalas (Explored)
A herd of Impalas looking back in the direction that they came from.
Impala - Fast food of the African bush!
The impala even has the distinctive MacDonald's "M" on its rump and are also called predator take-aways. There are thousands of them in the Kruger Park and we get so used to spotting them that eventually we just ignore them.
Impalas have evolved a number of unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in their dangerous environment.
Grooming and tick removal are high on the list of survival skills. The impala is the only hoofed animal that allogrooms - mutual grooming from one animal to another - as well as grooming itself.
It is also the smallest antelope that tolerates oxpecker birds to assist in removing ticks. Ticks can reduce blood reserves exposing the antelope to disease and malnutrition. To assist them in grooming, impalas possess an "antelope's toothcomb" comprised of canines and incisors adapted for removing ticks and other parasites. By allogrooming they get rid of ticks etc in the unreachable places, like around the ears, head and neck. When it comes to the area under the tails the two black stripes of the MacDonalds logo come into play. The constantly wagging tail of the impala brushes the ticks towards the warmer black hair where the impala can reach with its teeth.
Unlike most animals, the impalas graze and browse, thereby maximising the availability of food. For safety they move in herds as large as the available food will allow. They scatter in all directions if a predator should charge, leaping in strides of up to 12 meters. Impala ewes give birth away from the herd and rejoins with her calf within two days. With lambs in the herd, vigilance is sharpened, but the lambs still fall prey to wild dogs and other predators.
Even though they are considered predator "fast food", their numbers are increasing and these graceful antelope will not be on the endangered list for some time to come.
Source: Getaway Magazine - January 2004
Kruger National Park as seen from Ngwenya Lodge
Mpumalanga
South Africa
Alert Impalas (Explored)
A herd of Impalas looking back in the direction that they came from.
Impala - Fast food of the African bush!
The impala even has the distinctive MacDonald's "M" on its rump and are also called predator take-aways. There are thousands of them in the Kruger Park and we get so used to spotting them that eventually we just ignore them.
Impalas have evolved a number of unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in their dangerous environment.
Grooming and tick removal are high on the list of survival skills. The impala is the only hoofed animal that allogrooms - mutual grooming from one animal to another - as well as grooming itself.
It is also the smallest antelope that tolerates oxpecker birds to assist in removing ticks. Ticks can reduce blood reserves exposing the antelope to disease and malnutrition. To assist them in grooming, impalas possess an "antelope's toothcomb" comprised of canines and incisors adapted for removing ticks and other parasites. By allogrooming they get rid of ticks etc in the unreachable places, like around the ears, head and neck. When it comes to the area under the tails the two black stripes of the MacDonalds logo come into play. The constantly wagging tail of the impala brushes the ticks towards the warmer black hair where the impala can reach with its teeth.
Unlike most animals, the impalas graze and browse, thereby maximising the availability of food. For safety they move in herds as large as the available food will allow. They scatter in all directions if a predator should charge, leaping in strides of up to 12 meters. Impala ewes give birth away from the herd and rejoins with her calf within two days. With lambs in the herd, vigilance is sharpened, but the lambs still fall prey to wild dogs and other predators.
Even though they are considered predator "fast food", their numbers are increasing and these graceful antelope will not be on the endangered list for some time to come.
Source: Getaway Magazine - January 2004
Kruger National Park as seen from Ngwenya Lodge
Mpumalanga
South Africa