Puku
Kobus vardonii
Puku is a grass-eating antelope in African wetlands and savannas.
| Scientific name | Kobus vardonii |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Puku |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Bovidae |
| Size | Male: 60-80 kg; Female: 40-60 kg |
How to identify
Medium to small-sized body, with relatively long and slender legs; coat is yellowish-brown, lighter on the belly and inner legs; males have backward-curving ringed horns; tail is short with black hair at the tip; prefers to move in groups.
Habitat
Wetlands, open woodlands, marshes, and grasslands near river valleys.
Diet
Herbivorous, primarily feeding on grasses, also consumes aquatic plants.
When it is active
Mainly active during dawn and dusk, less active during daytime.
Where it lives
Primarily distributed in southern and eastern Africa, including Zambia, Tanzania, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, and parts of Kenya.
How to spot it
Observe at dawn or dusk near wetlands or river valleys; remain still to avoid disturbing them.
Photography tips
Use soft morning and evening light to capture group activities and drinking scenes at water edges; telephoto lenses help with long-distance photography.
Threats
Habitat loss and degradation, hunting pressure, drying of wetlands.
Similar species
Similar to other small antelopes like the waterbuck, but the puku is smaller, with differently shaped horns and a more uniform coat color.
