Red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama)
This antelope I photographed in the Kalagadi Gemsbok Park, but they are also in the Rietvlei Nature reserve a few Kilometres away from us… they are a Southern African animal and belong to a fairly large family of ungulates.
The breed once a year, with an eight month gestation period, dropping their young in early Spring. The calves are fairly weak at birth and are hidden during the day by their mothers. Once able to run with the herd they are brought into the family giving them a better chance of survival.. Although predators do capture hartebeest, they do not make up a primary source of food for any of them.. Lion may capture full grown males, Cheetah, hyena and leopard will rather go for the young…
Hartebeests have an excellent sense of hearing and smell, although their sense of sight is poor. When alarmed, hartebeests elude confusion before running, reaching a maximum speed of 55 km/hr. Their evasion tactic is to run in a zigzag pattern, making it difficult for predators to catch them.
The average weight of a male is about 150 kg, and female is 120 kg. Their average shoulder height is 135 cm, and horns are 60 cm long. Very difficult to tell the difference between males and females.. the males have a slightly bigger head size.. much like the human race… it’s for bumping heads when fighting over females..
These were drinking from a small hole in the ground which one of the animals had dug… not necessarily the hartebeest…
The Photographic Journey of bulldog. 
This is a great set of very interesting photos! They just look fast. But the photos of them getting the water are so interesting to look at. Another fascinating post from planet bulldog! Nicely done.
Thank you so much… glad I fascinate you with my photos…
Never heard of … before! Beautiful animal … and that cute little thing it can do some digging. *smile Was it only digging to get a cool place to lay down in ????
No they were actually drinking from the hole..
Okay … it looked like they were digging … that make sense. Thanks for putting me right.
The red hartebees are very different from their black brothers. More finely boned which probably means that they would run faster – just guessing though.
You are right… one of the faster runners in the veld… 55 – 60 Km./hr if I remember correctly.. (don’t quote me)
Such a lean lovely and loving creature. Great series!!!
Thank you…
I love your pics, Bulldog. They’re so clear and they ‘tell a story’ – wonderful stuff. I’ve got a feeling one I day I’ll see you on the TV with David Attenborough 😀
No .. me and David would clash .. he knows to much, far more than me, and that would not go down well … lol
I learn so much from you, Rob, and realize there are many, many things that I know nothing about! In this “episode” I’d say that it never occurred to me that any animal would need to dig like that for water. I suppose I should know that, but I didn’t! I’m in awe!
In certain spots of the country that is a survival requirement.. and so many adapt well…
Too bad all those cats and hyenas have to eat too. Wish they could all be vegetarians. But then you’d have no animals there, as it looks like pretty sparse vegetation.
It is pretty spares in the Kalahari .. yet when the rain falls it can become the most beautiful place on earth…
The little one was trying to find Australia by the looks of things 😉
Heading on down to greener pastures… wait till he finds the central area of Aussie… he’ll be back…
Beautiful photos as usual and love the commentary!
Thank you…
Wow, they really get right down in there don’t they. If I had to reach down that far, I would never get back up again LOL!!! Great shots as usual Bulldog – you always teach me something new and interesting!!
This is a dry river bed but in places there is water to be found… nature just gives them the tools to find it…
Lovely shots – one cannot believe there could be a drinking spot there.
Hard to believe .. but somehow they seem to find these things.. something we can’t do…
These are great photographs Bulldog. Do they have to dig far to get to the water?
No it is not far underground.. and actually I’ve got another post coming out today that should have been posted before this one.. about the water in the Kalagadi…
amazing survival tactics..well captured photos
Thank you.. at least they know there is water there… we wouldn’t..
true..and running zigzag to escape from predators..
WOW! What a beautiful colours in these photographs… I loved them all. But the last one fascinated me much more, so lovely. Thank you dear Rob, love, nia
Thanks Nia…