Download Antelope Yard - The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Antelope Yard
Interpretive Guide
Exhibit Theme: Amazing Adaptations- Prey and Predator
These animals have several adaptations that help them survive. Antelope are adapted to
detect and avoid predators, and storks have many adaptations that help them hunt for
aquatic animals.
Common Threats: Overhunting and habitat loss
Overhunting: The addra gazelle and lesser kudu are greatly affected by overhunting.
They are commonly hunted for sport and for their meat. Addra gazelles are also often
hunted by farmers for stripping their pastures.
Habitat Loss: All three species are affected by the loss and degradation of their habitats.
Exhibit Conservation Message:
The addra gazelle is critically endangered in the wild, and the lesser kudu is near
threatened. Here at the Zoo, these animals are part of a SSP, a breeding program that
aims to produce healthy, genetically diverse captive populations of threatened species.
Conservation Ask: Support the conservation efforts of organizations working in the field
to protect wildlife and conserve habitat.
Relevant Conservation Program: Species Survival Plan
Recommended Biofacts: Lesser kudu horn, saddle-billed stork feathers
3/31/2016
Antelope Yard Interpretive Guide
The Maryland Zoo
Lesser Kudu Horn
Recommended Biofact
Possible Hooks: Do you see an animal that has horns? Do you know the difference between
horns and antlers? What do you think a horn feels like?
Description: Two large, vertically spiraling horns grow from the top of the male lesser kudu’s
head
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Grows up to 3 feet long
Used in social and reproductive dominance displays
Horns vs. Antlers:
Horns: Found on animals belonging to the Bovidae family (antelope and cattle)
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Present in all males and most females (excluding kudu and sitatunga)
Horns are never shed and do not branch into multiple points; grow in various shapes
and sizes
Made of a boney core, covered by a keratin sheath
Antlers: Found on animals belonging to the Cervidae family (deer)
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Present only in males (excluding reindeer)
Made of bone, and shed each year. As they grow, antlers are covered by a thin layer of
skin and soft fur called velvet. When antlers are finished growing, blood flow is cut off
and the velvet falls off, leaving behind hard bone.
3/31/2016
Lesser Kudu Horn
The Maryland Zoo
Lesser Kudu
Tragelaphus imberbis australis
Description:
 Size:
o Length: 3.5-4.5 ft (110-140 cm)
o Height (at shoulder): 3-3.5 ft (90-105cm)
 Weight:
o Male: 202-238 lb (92-108 kg)
o Female: 123-154 lb (56-70 kg)
 Physical Description: Lesser kudu are large, long necked antelope. The tail is short
without a tuft of hair at the tip. A white stripe runs down the center of the spine, with
11-14 stripes running down from the central stripe.
 Sexual dimorphism:
o Males are much larger, and predominantly grey in color
 Have spiraling horns that can reach a length of 3 ft (95 cm), as well as a
short mane between the shoulder blades and along the spine near the
rump
o Females/juveniles: Dominant color is reddish-brown
 Females are smaller and lack horns and a mane
In the Wild
Habitat and Range:
 Geographic range: The lesser kudu is found in northern east Africa, including Ethiopia,
Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
 Preferred Habitat: A shy species, it is rarely found in open habitat, and prefers dry, flat,
and densely thicketed areas in the tropics and sub-tropics. Can also be found in
woodland and hilly areas.
Diet:
 Herbivorous: Lesser kudu eat a wide variety of plants, in some areas up to 150 different
species. Its diet includes leaves, shoots, twigs, grass, fruit, and herbs.
o Rarely drinks water, and seems to get all the moisture necessary from its food,
enabling the species to survive in arid and semi-arid areas.
Adaptations:
 Slightly striped pattern provides superb camouflage in wooded areas with tall grass.
 Huge ears are highly mobile, and enable kudu to hear most threats from a long way
away.
 Horns are used for protection and dominance displays between males.
 Long, thin legs are well adapted for running quickly. Because the legs have little mass,
they are easier for the powerful thigh muscles to move. When bounding, lesser kudu
can reach heights of 6.5 ft (2 m) and lengths of 30 ft (9.2 m) in a single jump.
3/31/2016
Lesser Kudu
The Maryland Zoo
Lesser Kudu
Tragelaphus imberbis australis
Social Structure:
 Males: primarily solitary, occasionally form small groups
 Females: typically live in groups of 2-3 adults and their offspring
 Groups maintain home ranges, but are rarely territorial
Lifespan/Life Cycle:
 Wild: 7-8 years
 Captivity: Up to 23 years
Ecosystem relationships:
 Predators: Both young and adults are hunted by lions, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs,
eagles, and large pythons.
 Interspecies competitors: Other herbivores are likely competitors.
 Role/ Niche: As a primary consumer, lesser kudu serve as a food source for large
carnivores. Due to the wide variety of plants they consume, they also play a role in
vegetation control.
Reproduction:
 Breeding season: There is no fixed breeding season for lesser kudu.
 Behavior:
o Courtship: Males are solitary unless getting ready to breed. If males encounter
each other near a female, they will lock horns and attempt to force each other
into submission.
 The larger male usually wins, and establishes breeding rights with the
female.
o The male and female will also engage in a dominance display, in which both
antelope will stand fully erect and attempt to shove each other back. Apart from
this display, males are never aggressive towards females.
o After copulation, the males leave the females and return to being solitary.
 Gestation: 7-8 months.
 Number of offspring: one calf
 Maturation:
o About 50% of calves die within the first six months to predation and disease, and
only about 75% live past three years of age.
o For the first month of the calf’s life, the mother will keep it separate from the
group, after which it will follow the mother continuously.
o Males leave the group after 1.5 to two years, and reach full size at three years,
though they do not usually attain enough status to mate until five years.
o Females will either stay with their mothers or leave to form new groups.
3/31/2016
Lesser Kudu
The Maryland Zoo
Lesser Kudu
Tragelaphus imberbis australis
Activity:
 Nocturnal, but often active during the day
o Mainly forages at dawn and dusk, most active at night
Other “fun facts”:
 The lesser kudu resembles the greater kudu physically, but the greater kudu is
substantially larger and displays different social behavior and structure.
 Antelope vs. deer: Lesser kudu, along with the sitatunga, addra gazelle, and Kirk’s dikdik, are species of antelope. While both antelope and deer are ungulates (hoofed
mammals), antelope have horns while deer have antlers.
 When startled, kudu will vocalize with a short bark before bounding away
Conservation Status and Threats:
 Listed on the IUCN Red List as Near Threatened.
 Not listed on CITES.
 Threats:
o Hunting: They are commonly hunted for both bushmeat (wild animal meat) and
sport. The horns, in particular, are coveted for their use as musical instruments,
honey containers, and materials for spiritual rituals. However, their preferred
dense scrub habitat and shy habits provide some protection from hunting
efforts.
o Overgrazing and encroachment from human farmers degrades the kudu’s
habitat, since kudu will not survive in open fields or farmland.
o Rinderpest, a disease that affects cattle, has caused considerable decreases in
population, though it is now no longer a concern.
 Because about 30% of the wild population lives in protected areas, the lesser kudu is
considered conservation dependent.
 Conservation efforts:
o Lesser kudu are part of a Species Survival Plan, which aims to create a genetically
diverse captive population in American zoos and aquariums.
o The aforementioned rinderpest disease is no longer a concern. After a 2001
resolution by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), member countries
committed to destroying or storing all occurrences of rinderpest.
 In 2011, the world was officially declared to be free from rinderpest,
making it the second disease (after smallpox) to be destroyed by
concentrated human action.
At the Zoo
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3/31/2016
The Zoo houses two female and two male lesser kudu.
o Ritter (male), and Lemon (female) were both born in 2010
Lesser Kudu
The Maryland Zoo
Lesser Kudu
Tragelaphus imberbis australis
o Maringue (female), born in 2013.
 In 2015, Maringue gave birth to Kaiser (male); the first lesser kudu to be
born at the Zoo.
What We Can Do
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Make sure you know the origin of the products you buy – buying something imported
illegally supports the black market by sustaining demand
o Ex. Rosewood is still being illegally imported from Madagascar despite bans on
logging because people are still buying it
Opt for fake fur or horns over real materials when buying coats, other clothing and
accessories
o All of our shopping choices can have an impact on the environment and wildlife,
so when available opt for recycled and local products
o Research responsible companies that do not use animal based products or
testing
Support the conservation efforts of local organizations like The Maryland Zoo as well as
organizations working in the field to protect wildlife and conserve habitat. Learn more
about them, spread the word, and consider donating or getting involved.
Learn more about the bushmeat crisis and other ways that you can help at
http://www.bushmeat.org/.
Support sustainable industry and medical research
References:
 http://www.arkive.org/lesser-kudu/tragelaphus-imberbis/
 http://www.arkive.org/greater-kudu/tragelaphus-strepsiceros/
 http://www.marylandzoo.org/animals-conservation/mammals/lesser-kudu/
 http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22053/0
 http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Tragelaphus_imberbis/
 http://www.antelopetag.com/assets/docs/Antelope/Lesser_Kudu_08.pdf
 http://www.oie.int/for-the-media/rinderpest/
3/31/2016
Lesser Kudu
The Maryland Zoo
Addra Gazelle
Nanger dama ruficollis
Description:
 Size:
o Length: 4.5-5.5 ft (140-168 cm)
o Height (at the shoulder): 3-4 ft (90-120 cm)
 Weight: 88-187 lb (40-85 kg)
 Physical Description:
o An ungulate (hoofed mammal) with long, thin legs and a short tail
o Predominantly white, with reddish-brown shoulders and neck
o Ears are long and highly mobile, neck is long, and eyes are large
o Horns curl upward and away from each other in an “S” shape
 Sexual dimorphism: Males are typically larger and have larger horns than females
In the Wild
Habitat and Range:
 Geographic range: Historically, addra gazelle have lived in northern Africa across the
subcontinent immediately south of the Sahara.
o Their range has decreased over time; currently, they are thought to only live in
the countries of Chad, Mali, Niger, and Senegal.
 Habitat: Found in semi-arid scrub habitat between the Sahara and savannah. Vegetation
is sparse in these regions.
o Addra gazelle move seasonally from scrub land to desert in search of food.
Diet:
 Herbivorous:
o Browse on leaves, grass, and shrubs
o Most of the water they need comes directly from their food
Adaptations:
 Addra gazelle are well-known for being resistant to droughts, due to their ability to
obtain water from the food that they eat. This adaptation is important for survival in
their semi-desert to desert habitat.
 Gazelles have long, thin legs that enable high speeds. Because the legs are so thin and
light, minimal force is required to move them quickly, and the hoof is a lightweight way
of providing traction while running.
 Sometimes stands erect on the hind legs in order to reach foliage above the normal
head level.
 Long neck and large eyes help the gazelle to better survey the landscape, while large
ears enhance the ability to hear impending threats
 “Two-toned” coloration acts as camouflage and blurs the animal’s outline
3/31/2016
Addra Gazelle
The Maryland Zoo
Addra Gazelle
Nanger dama ruficollis
Social Structure:
 During the dry season, found in small mixed groups of about 20 gazelles.
o Groups typically have a single dominant male along with several females and
their young, though female-only and male-only groups have been observed.
o The male asserts his dominance by standing separately from the herd or marking
trees with his horns.
 During the wet season, herds congregate into large, mixed groups with upwards of 200
individuals.
Median Lifespan Expectancy:
 Wild: 10-12 years
 Captivity: 13+ years
Ecosystem relationships:
 Predators: Any large local predator, such as lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, jackals,
and humans.
 Interspecies competitors: Likely other medium-large herbivores, including other gazelle
species.
 Role/ Niche:
o Play an important role in preventing ecological succession, the process by which
local species change. By stripping acacia trees, gazelles prevent them from
completely dominating an ecosystem and out-competing other plant species.
o Provide a major food source for many predators.
Reproduction:
 Breeding season: Typically between October and December
 Behavior:
o Breeding is polygynous, which means that one male may breed with several
females.
o Males may become territorial during breeding season, and will attempt to “herd”
females into their territory and keep other males out.
o Courtship behaviors include prancing, nose-lifting and other upright postures,
kicking forelegs, touching, nibbling, and licking of the females, and even snoring
or sputtering.
 Gestation: 5.5 to 6 months
 Number of offspring: One is typical, but twins may occur rarely.
 Maturation:
o The mother hides and guards the calf for a few days immediately following birth,
until the calf is old enough to follow her.
o Sexual maturity is reached at 1 year for males and 1.5 years for females.
3/31/2016
Addra Gazelle
The Maryland Zoo
Addra Gazelle
Nanger dama ruficollis
Activity:
 Diurnal
o Typically active during the day
Other “fun facts”:
 Gazelles sometimes engage in a behavior called “pronking,” in which they will spring
high into the air with all legs straight and rigid, then land on all four feet. The exact
reason for this behavior is unknown, but it is hypothesized to communicate alarm,
intimidate predators, or serve to give the animal a better view.
Conservation Status and Threats:
 Listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered.
 Listed under CITES appendix I, which heavily limits the trade of this species
 Current wild population is thought to be less than 500 individuals.
 Threats:
o The major threat facing this species is overhunting and poaching. Nomads,
soldiers, subsistence farmers, and hunting parties hunt addra gazelles for food,
trophies, and for stripping pastures.
o Habitat loss due to overgrazing cattle
o Social unrest in range countries poses a challenge to conservation efforts and
legislation
 Conservation efforts:
o The few addra gazelles left in the wild are heavily dependent upon wildlife
preserves. These parks contain most, if not all, of the remaining wild breeding
population.
o Many zoos and aquariums, including the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, participate
in the Species Survival Plan, which is a cooperative effort to establish a
genetically diverse breeding population of addra gazelles.
o Some of the offspring of captive breeding programs have been reintroduced to
national parks in Senegal and Tunisia.
 Many of the wild habits of this species are poorly understood because it is so rare and
difficult to observe.
At the Zoo
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The Zoo houses four addra gazelles.
o A male named Mukuru, born in 2007
o A female named Sparrow, born in 2012
o A female named Pipit, born in 2014
o A female named Wren, born in 2014
3/31/2016
Addra Gazelle
The Maryland Zoo
Addra Gazelle
Nanger dama ruficollis
What We Can Do





Make sure you know the origin of the products you buy – buying something imported
illegally supports the black market by sustaining demand
o Ex. Rosewood is still being illegally imported from Madagascar despite bans on
logging because people are still buying it
Opt for fake fur and horns over real materials when buying coats and other clothing and
accessories
o All of our shopping choices can have an impact on the environment and wildlife,
so when available opt for recycled and local products
o Research responsible companies that do not use animal based products or
testing
Buy local produce and other food items that have been sustainably harvested, with a
minimal impact on the environment
Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat - conserve
energy and resources, reduce litter and pollution
Support the conservation efforts of local organizations like The Maryland Zoo as well as
organizations working in the field to protect wildlife and conserve habitat. Learn more
about them, spread the word, and consider donating or getting involved.
References:
 Animal Diversity Web:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Nanger_dama/
 Antelope TAG:
http://www.antelopetag.com/assets/docs/antelope/desertantelope/addra_gazelle.pdf
 ARKive: http://www.arkive.org/dama-gazelle/nanger-dama/
 CITES: http://www.cites.org/eng/gallery/species/mammal/dama_gazelle.html
 IUCN Red List: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/8968/0
 The Maryland Zoo Website: http://www.marylandzoo.org/animalsconservation/mammals/addra-gazelle/
 The National Zoo Website:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AfricanSavanna/Facts/fact-dama.cfm
3/31/2016
Addra Gazelle
The Maryland Zoo
Saddle-billed stork
Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Description:
 Size:
o Height: 4.5-5 ft (139-150 cm)
o Wingspan: up to 9 ft (270 cm)
 Weight: 11-16 lb (5-7.5 kg)
o Physical description: Is the tallest African stork, with corresponding long legs and
a huge bill that may measure up to 13 in (33 cm).
o Coloration: The main body is completely white with an orange spot in the middle
of the breast, while the head, neck, and tail are black with green iridescence. The
bill is bright red with a black band around the center and a yellow “saddle” near
the base. Legs are black with red bands around the joints and red feet.
 Sexual dimorphism: Females are slightly smaller than males, and have yellow eyes, while
males have brown eyes.
In the Wild
Habitat and Range:
 Range: Widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa
 Habitat: Prefers wide, open habitats with a reliable source of water nearby. Can also be
found in forests and semi-arid areas.
Diet:
 Carnivorous: Diet is primarily fish, but may also eat other animals found in an aquatic
setting such as frogs, small mammals, small reptiles, mollusks, and insects.
Adaptations:
 Long legs give storks a high vantage point, which helps them see predators through
reeds and tall grasses
 Long legs also allow for wading, and aid storks in hunting for food. Storks may use their
feet and beak to stir up water and flush prey from hiding spots.
 Good eyesight works in conjunction with tactile abilities of a large beak to find food.
 Large wings allow for easy takeoff, like other storks, they rely on thermals to soar
Social Structure:
 Like most storks, saddle-billed storks are mainly solitary.
o Occasionally gather in small groups
 Pairs nest alone; they are territorial and will chase other pairs out of their home range
Lifespan:
 Median lifespan expectancy:
o In wild: 12 years
3/31/2016
Saddle-Billed Stork
The Maryland Zoo
Saddle-billed stork
Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
o In captivity: 19 years
Ecosystem relationships:
 Predators: Adults are large and have few predators. Big cats, hyenas, and wild dogs may
attack on occasion.
o Chicks are more vulnerable to predators listed above, as well as large birds of
prey.
Reproduction:
 Breeding season: Varies widely over the stork’s range
 Behavior:
o Monogamous
o Courtship: Pairs may feed together near the nest, or may perform a display,
which involves running and flapping the wings simultaneously to display their
striking plumage. They may also perform infrequent “up-down” head bobs.
o Nesting: Typically returns to the same site annually
 Build nests on top of tall or otherwise inaccessible trees in full sunlight.
 Nest is constructed of sticks lined with reeds or sedge, and cemented
with mud and earth.
 Clutch size: Varies between 1-5, but 2-3 eggs is most common. Laying interval is
unknown, but estimated at 2 days.
 Maturation:
o Stork chicks are altricial, meaning that they are born helpless.
o Parents brood and stay with chicks at all times until they are about 45 days old,
when chicks begin losing down and developing adult feathers.
o Fledging probably occurs between 70-100 days. Parents feed the chicks via
regurgitation until they fledge.
o Chicks leave the nest near the end of the dry season, when food is most
concentrated in small ponds
Activity:
 Diurnal
 Non-migratory although they may make small local migrations to follow food availability
Other “fun facts”:
 Once fish are caught, storks often wash fish before swallowing them whole.
 The bill has a small “saddle” near the base that gives the stork its name, and small
wattles dangling underneath that resemble stirrups
 Storks are not very vocal, instead they communicate in other ways, such as clattering
their bills.
3/31/2016
Saddle-Billed Stork
The Maryland Zoo
Saddle-billed stork
Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Conservation Status and Threats:
 Listed on the IUCN Red List as Least Concern
 CITES lists these animals under Appendix III, which regulates their trade and requires
permits for exportation, importation, and transport
 Mainly threatened by degradation and destruction of wetland habitats
o Because these animals are large, attractive, and wary of humans, human-stork
conflict is rare.
 Conservation efforts:
o Zoos and aquariums around the world are engaged in a Species Survival Plan
(SSP) aimed at sustained a genetically diverse saddle-billed stork population in
captivity.
o In Africa, many species are protected in parks by encouraging ecotourism and
educating visitors about the threats these animals face.
At the Zoo
Two saddle-billed storks are on exhibit in the Antelope Yard in the African Boardwalk.
Clyde, male, hatched in 1988
Amelia, female, hatched (approximately) in 2007
What We Can Do


Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat –
conserve energy, reduce litter and pollution
Support the conservation efforts of local organizations like The Maryland Zoo as well as
organizations working in the field to protect wildlife and conserve habitat
References:
 CITES: http://www.cites.org/eng/gallery/species/bird/saddle_billed_stork.html
 IUCN Red List: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22697706/0
 Standford University Website:
https://web.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Bird_Voices.html
 The Maryland Zoo Website: http://www.marylandzoo.org/animalsconservation/birds/saddle-billed-stork/
 The Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology:
http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/africa_birds/ABB15(1)38-39.pdf
 Brown, Leslie H., Emil K. Urban, and Kenneth Newman. Birds of Africa. Vol. I. New York:
Academic, 1982. 185-86. Print.
3/31/2016
Saddle-Billed Stork
The Maryland Zoo