Sitatunga
Scientific name: Tragelaphus spekii
IUCN listed as: Least Concern
Learn before you visit!
Here are some facts about the species – Discover what they eat, find out about their natural habitat, see what they like to do, and more… Set the reading style to suit you too, everyday speak or something aimed towards children.
Child-friendly
Everyday
Diet
Sitatungas primarily feed on aquatic plants, grasses, leaves, and buds. They also consume reeds, sedges, and occasionally fruits. Their diet is adapted to their swampy habitats where these plants are abundant. Sitatungas have specialised teeth and digestive systems to handle their fibrous diet. They forage mainly during dawn and dusk when they are most active.
Sitatungas eat plants like grasses, leaves, and buds. They also munch on reeds and fruits sometimes. They live in swampy areas where these plants grow. They look for food early in the morning and late in the day.
Breeding
Breeding in sitatungas occurs throughout the year. Females have a gestation period of about seven months, usually giving birth to one calf. The calf is hidden in dense vegetation for protection from predators. Mothers nurse their young until they are about six months old. The young become independent at around one to two years of age.
Sitatungas can have babies any time of the year. The mother is pregnant for about seven months and usually has one baby. She hides the baby in thick plants to keep it safe. The baby drinks its mother’s milk until it is six months old and grows up by one to two years old.
Habitat
Sitatungas are found in swampy areas and wetlands in Central and Western Africa. They live in places with dense reeds and papyrus where they can easily hide from predators. These habitats provide them with plenty of food and protection. However, habitat destruction and hunting are major threats to their populations. Conservation efforts focus on preserving wetlands and reducing hunting pressure.
Sitatungas live in swamps and wetlands in Africa. They like places with lots of reeds and papyrus to hide in. These places give them food and keep them safe. Protecting their homes and stopping hunting are important to save them.
At the zoo
In zoos, sitatungas are provided with habitats that replicate their natural swamp environments, including water bodies and dense vegetation. They are fed a diet similar to their wild diet, including grasses, leaves, and aquatic plants. Zoos help in educating the public about these unique antelopes and support breeding programs to maintain healthy populations. Observing sitatungas in zoos helps raise awareness about their conservation needs. Zoos also play a role in research to understand their behaviour and ecology better.
In zoos, sitatungas live in areas that look like their swampy homes. They eat grasses, leaves, and water plants. Zoos teach people about sitatungas and help protect them. Watching them in zoos helps us learn more about them.
Behaviour
Sitatungas are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk. They are excellent swimmers and often move through water to escape predators. Their long, splayed hooves help them walk on soft, swampy ground without sinking. Sitatungas are generally solitary but may form small groups, especially females with their young. They communicate through vocalisations and scent markings.
Sitatungas are active early in the morning and late in the day. They are great swimmers and use water to escape danger. Their special hooves help them walk on soft, swampy ground. They usually live alone but sometimes stay in small groups.
Fun facts
- Aquatic Adaptations: Sitatungas have waterproof coats and elongated hooves for living in swamps.
- Excellent Swimmers: They can submerge completely to avoid predators, leaving only their nostrils above water.
- Twisted Horns: Males have long, spiralled horns used for display and defense.
- Crepuscular Habits: They are most active at dawn and dusk.
- Secretive Nature: Sitatungas are elusive and rarely seen in the wild.
- Waterproof Coats: Sitatungas have special coats that keep them dry in water.
- Great Swimmers: They can hide underwater with just their noses sticking out.
- Cool Horns: Male sitatungas have long, twisty horns.
- Active Times: They are busy early in the morning and late in the day.
- Shy Animals: Sitatungas are very shy and hard to spot in the wild.
More animals to discover at our zoo
Quick Links
Tickets & Prices
You can buy tickets for Exmoor Zoo securely online, as well as finding out more price options, discover offers, and more…
What’s on…
Exmoor Zoo hosts incredible Events all through the year. You can find out about what we’ve got in store here…
Routes & info
Like any great discovery, Exmoor Zoo can feel a little off the beaten path – but don’t worry – you can plan your journey with our recommended routes and other useful travel info.
