Never Disappointed for Defassa Waterbuck on Your Game Drive in Uganda’s National ParkS; The Defassa waterbuck is a large, robust animals with long, shaggy hair and a brown gray coat that emits an oily secretion from its sweat glands, which acts as water repellent. It also has large, rounded ears and white patches above the eyes, and around the nose and around the throat.
Defassa waterbucks live in Uganda’s savanna national parks and game reserves, as a company, Mirama hills safaris we are ready to take you through the following protected areas which include; Murchison Falls national park the biggest national park, Queen Elizabeth national park the second biggest in the country, Lake Mburo the smallest savannah park in Uganda and Kidepo Valley national park and also found in game reserves like Pian Upe, Katonga, Bugungu Matheniko game reserves for these creatures in their habitat. They prefer grasslands near water, especially by draining lines and valleys.
Defassa waterbucks are mainly grazers, eating coarse grasses and occasionally browsing leaves. They feed in the mornings and at night and rest and ruminate the rest of the time. Defassa waterbucks live in small herds of 8 to 25 animals, which are made up of many females and territorial and non-territorial males. Females are usually found alone.
Hence their name, waterbuck tend to hang around areas where there is a lot of water, especially being water dependent animals. Bulls (males) in particular, will hold a territory where there is an abundant amount of water and food to attract females – he will only hold this territory in breeding seasons.
Only male waterbucks have horns and females don’t have, which are curved forward and vary in length from 52–100cm. Horns begin to grow up on males at the age of 8–9 months, which marks their separation from the females though they are close to female herds. When the breeding time occurs, Defassa waterbucks interbreed with Common waterbucks, and some scientists consider the two groups as a single species.
As soon as young males start developing horns (at around 7-9 months of age), they are chased out of the herd by territorial bulls Waterbuck are polygamous breeders; this means that one male mates with more than one female
Defassa waterbuck have long bodies, necks and short legs, coarse hair, and a mane on their necks. Their head and body length range from 177 – 235 cm and shoulder height from 120 – 136 cm.
Courtship includes face rubbing and the male rubbing his long horns against the females back. Pre copulation the male will tap between the female’s hind legs with his forelegs to gauge receptiveness. Gestation is 270 to 280 days. Common waterbuck are non-seasonal breeders.
If males are not holding a territory, they tend to form a bachelor herd for survival. Cows (females) and calves form a nursery herd and females will remain in the natal herd.
The waterbuck tend to fight, which may last up to 30 minutes, may even become so violent one of the opponents meets its death due to severe wounds caused by their sharp horns.
They have been known to evade predators by rushing into water as the predatory cats, such as lions and leopards, are very reluctant to get themselves wet – even if it means missing out on a meal. The trademark white ring around the waterbucks’ hindquarters is used as a “follow me” sign. If one of the group spots a predator and runs, the rest know where to follow to avoid becoming dinner for one of the hungry cats.
Waterbuck have a lot of hair around their necks neck making them look as if they should be living in much colder climates, but there is functionality to this hair as it is all hollow. The hollow hair allows for extra buoyancy when swimming, helping the waterbuck to keep their heads above the water. Its shaggy coat is reddish-brown to grey and becomes progressively darker with age and the Males are darker than females.
During the mating season, the skin of the waterbuck secretes a greasy substance with the odor of musk, giving it the name “greasy kob”. This odor is so unpleasant that it repels predators. This secretion also assists in water-proofing the body when the animal dives into the water.
They feed on a variety of grasses and may occasionally browse leaves from certain trees and bushes also they are very dependent on water
Waterbucks can live to 18 years in the wild and 30 years in captivity.
