Nyala

Tragelaphus angasii

nyala min 1 1
IUCN Conservation Status –
Least Concern
Extinct In The Wild
Class: Mammals
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Bovidae

Head over to the African Savannah to see our group of nyala, along with our Chapman’s zebra and wildebeest.

Nyala antelope are a shy species which inhabit areas of dense thicket and forest in southern parts of Africa.

As a herbivore, nyala will eat shrubs, leaves and grass, spending much of their time grazing.

Interesting facts!

  • Nyala are one of Africa’s most alert antelope. They sense danger using their exceptional hearing and smell, as well as by sight.
  • Male nyala grow an impressive pair of horns on their head. heads These twist 1.5-2.5 times and may measure 60-83cm (24-33in) long. Female nyala do not have horns.
  • Male nyala can be recognised by their coarse, dark grey coat and pale stripes on the torso. Females and juveniles are red-brown coloured and have 10 very prominent white stripes on the lateral sides of their body.

Conservation

In the past, nyala disappeared from much of their range due to habitat loss caused by farming, over-grazing by cattle, hunting by humans, and rinderpest infection. However, effective habitat protections, species management, and re-introductions of nyala to areas where they had been wiped out have helped the species to bounce back.