Red Hartebeest Photo Album Page 7
HABITAT
Open grasslands and semi-arid bush savanna, to a lesser extent open woodland. Avoids denser woodland except when passing through. Independent od water, but will drink if it is available.
HABITS
Most active in the early morning and late afternoon. Rests in shade in the summer, in the open in the winter, but is heat tolerant and can graze all day if necessary. Very mobile and will move long distances. The long forelegs allow an energy-saving canter. Highly adapted to hot arid conditions. The metabolic rate is low, and blood going to the brain is cooled by heat exchange with blood coming from the nasal membranes. A fast runner, reaching speeds of 60 to 70km/h. Calves that can not keep up with a fleeing herd drop flat on the ground in an attempt to avoid detection.
DIET
A selective grazer and browser. Selects for species, and for leaf over stem. If no water is available eats melons and digs for tubers.
BREEDING
Single calves are born in September to November after a gestation of 240 days. The weight of the bulls can be 155kg. and the cows 125kg. They have a lifespan of around 16 years.
Heiner Ebner of Austria with a Red Hartebeest.
Joe McErlean of England with a Red Hartebeest.
