Bangweulu Tsessebe
( Bangweulu Sassaby )
- Damaliscus lunatus superstes
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Trend: decreasing
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Artiodactyla
- Family: Bovidae
- Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
- Genus: Damaliscus
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General Information
The Bangweulu tsessebe is endemic to Zambia and can only be found in the bangweulu flood plains. It is very similar to other subspecies of tsessebe and is one of the fastest antelope in the world.
Description
As compared to the common tsessebe, the Bangweulu tsessebe are on average the darkest-coloured and have the most robust horns, they have a smooth reddish brown coat with a light fawn belly and a tasselled tail. Although differences are slight and individuals in both populations show variation in these characteristics which almost completely overlap each other.- Length: 150 to 230 cm
- Weight: up to 140 kg
- Lifespan: up to 15 yrs
Ecology & Behaviour
Tsessebe are social animals. Females form herds composed of six to 10, with their young. After males turn one year of age, they are ejected from the herd and form bachelor herds that can be as large as 30 young bulls. Tsessebe declare their territory through a variety of behaviors such as moving in an erect posture, high-stepping, defecating in a crouch stance, ground-horning, mud packing, shoulder-wiping, grunting and horning of the ground. Another far more curious form of territory marking is through the anointing of their foreheads and horns with secretions from glands near their eyes.
Conservation
It is categorised with a “Least concern” status on the IUCN Red list.
Distribution & Habitat
Tsessebe are found only in the Bangweulu Swamp region.
Interaction with Humans
They can be legally hunted in the bangweulu flood plains game management areas. Hunters must purchase permits, as well as pay trophy fees upon shooting an animal. Local inhabitants of the floodplains occasionally hunt the animals for food under the permit system. The hunting season in typically between May and November.
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