The Puku Antelope

About this book

Language: English

The puku antelope is inconspicuous at first sight – a medium-sized even-toed ungulate with golden-yellow fur that occurs in south-central Africa, especially in Zambia and Tanzania, where it lives mostly in grasslands along rivers and lakes. Adult males carry lyre-shaped horns and defend territories, while females, juveniles and bachelors roam in unstable groups. A closer look reveals: pukus are fascinating. Typical grazers, but their diet is far from monotonous. Apparently also significant: woodlands. Unexpected: Pukus lie in the African sun in the middle of the day. Special feature: Pukus whistle. This book tells us about their life in the savannah, their relationship to other antelope species, their predators and more.

Since 2007, Dr Vera Rduch has been studying pukus and has contributed significantly to the research on this antelope species. She takes us on a journey to see them in Africa. This volume of the Neue Brehm-Bücherei is the first monograph on this species, a comprehensive account of what has been observed and researched since it was mentioned by David Livingstone in 1857, up to the current threats from poaching and habitat loss.

This book is based on the German edition of Die Puku-Antilope published in 2022.

Contents

- From nose to tail – Morphology and anatomy
- History of discovery and the special relationship between puku and kob antelope
- Waterbuck & kin and the family of hollow-horned ruminants
- Geographical distribution in Africa
- Habitat, population and social structure
- Nothing but grass? Diet and variability
- Life in the savannah
- Territorial behaviour and reproduction
- Behaviour patterns during the day and year
- Pukus and humans – threats and chances of survival

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