Hippotragus niger
The Sable Antelope inhabits wooded savannah in East Africa south of Kenya, and in Southern Africa.
Sables mostly eat grass but at times will eat herbs and leaves from shrubs and trees. They are never found very far from water and are especially dependent upon it during the dry season.
Sable antelopes are gregarious, nomadic animals. Dominant males defend harems of females against intruding males. Males may drop to their knees and engage in horn wrestling in fights. The dominant male will allow subordinate males to graze in his territory as long as they are submissive and show no interest in females.
All pictures on this page were taken at the zoo of San Diego, California, in March 2004. The top picture shows a male, and the two pictures below show juvenile and/or female individuals.
 Genus Hippotragus |
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