The roan
antelope is a savanna antelope found in West, Central, East Africa and Southern Africa,is large and grey or brown with long, tasseled ears. It has a distinct
black and white “clown” mask, which is darker in males than in females. It is
the fourth largest antelope.
Both sexes have backward-curving horns, although
they are shorter in females.Roans primarily graze grass, but will also browse
shrubs and herbs. They are water-dependent.
Roan antelope are found in woodland and grassland savanna mainly in the Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, which range in tree density from forest with a grassy understorey (such as Central Zambezian Miombo woodlands) to grasslands dotted with few trees, where they eat mid-length grass.
They form harem groups of five to fifteen animals with a dominant male. Roan antelope commonly fight among themselves for dominance of their herd, brandishing their horns while both animals are on their knees.
Roan antelope stand about a metre and half at the shoulder and weigh around 250 kilograms. Named for the "roan' colour (a reddish brown), they have a lighter underbelly,
white eyebrows and cheeks and a black face, lighter in females. There is a short erect mane, a very light beard and prominent red nostrils. The horns are ringed and can reach a metre long in males, slightly shorter in females. They arch backwards slightly.
Roans are
active both during the day and at night, but mostly in the morning and evening.
They live in small-to-medium herds of 6 to 20 females and young, usually
accompanied by a male.
They breed
year round. After a single calf is born, the mother will conceal it in tall
grass and not wander too far from it.They can run up to 35 miles per hour.
Roan calves
are vulnerable to hyenas, leopards, and wild dogs. Although the roan is neither
listed as endangered nor critically threatened, populations are declining.
Factors such as habitat loss and poaching contribute to this.
Sources:www.awf.org
