Lesser Kudu

The lesser kudu (Ammelaphus imberbis, formerly Tragelaphus imberbis) is a forest antelope found in East Africa. It was first described by Edward Blyth in 1869. One of the most ancient species, the lesser kudu at one time was thought to be a smaller version of the Greater Kudu, but now is considered to be a more primitive species. The lesser kudu are 90 to 110 cm (35 to 43 in) tall at the shoulder and weigh 60–100 kg (130–220 lb).

Lesser kudu live in dry thorn bush and forest and eat mainly leaves. They are nocturnal and matinine crepuscular. They live in groups of two to five ranging up to twenty-four. Lesser kudu can jump distances more than 9 m (30 ft) and 2.5 m (8.2 ft) high. They can also reach running speeds of around 100 km/h (62 mph). Unlike its cousin, the greater kudu, which is one of the slowest antelopes, the lesser kudu is one of fastest.

The lesser kudu is native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and the United Republic of Uganda. It is regionally extinct in Djibouti. Marked as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), its population is decreasing.