Sitatunga

Tragelaphus angasii

General Description

Scientific Name: Tragelaphus angasii

Subspecies: 5 Subspecies

Nile Sitatunga (T. s. spekii)
Congo Sitatunga (T. s. gratus)
West African Sitatunga (T.s. gratus)
Southern Sitatunga (T. s. selousi)
Lake Victoria Sitatunga (T.s. sylvestris)

Other Names: Marshbuck

Status: Least Concern (decreasing)

Population Estimate: 90,000 - 120,000

Population in Assessed Areas: 0

Diet: Herbivore - mixed browser & grazer

Male Size: 80-130 Kgs

Female Size: 40-70 Kgs

Trophy Size: 27 inches min (Rowland ward)

Generation Length: 5.5 years

Reproductive Season: Year Round

Time of Activity: Diurnal/ semi-nocturnal

Description: The sitatunga is a medium-sized antelope. It is sexually dimorphic, with males considerably larger than females. The head-and-body length is typically between 136–177 cm (54–70 in) in males and 104–146 cm (41–57 in) in females. Males reach approximately 81–116 cm (32–46 in) at the shoulder, while females reach 72–90 cm (28–35 in). Males typically weigh 76–119 kg (168–262 lb), while females weigh 24–57 kg (53–126 lb). The tail is 14–37 cm (5.5–14.6 in) long. The saucer-shaped ears are 11–17 cm (4.3–6.7 in) long. Only the males possess horns; these are spiral in shape, have one or two twists and are 45–92 cm (18–36 in) long. The sitatunga is almost indistinguishable from the nyala, except in pelage and spoor. Speke pointed out that, though "closely allied" to the waterbuck, the sitatunga lacks stripes and is spotted instead.

The coat colour varies geographically, but, in general, is a rufous red in juveniles and chestnut in females. There are white facial markings, as well as several stripes and spots all over, though they are only faintly visible. White patches can be seen on the throat, near the head and the chest. A pair of inguinal scent glands are present. The coats of males darken with age, becoming gray to dark brown. Males develop a rough and scraggy mane, usually brown in colour, and a white dorsal stripe. There is a chevron between the eyes of the males.

The body and legs of this antelope are specially adapted to its swampy habitat. The hooves of the male are elongated and widely splayed. The rubbery, shaggy, water-repellent coat is minimally affected by slimy and muddy vegetation. The wedge-like shape and lowering of the head, coupled with the backward bend of the horns (in males) provides for easy navigation through dense vegetation. The pasterns are flexible, and the hooves, banana-like in shape, can reach a length of up to 16 cm (6.3 in) in the hindlegs and 18 cm (7.1 in) in the forelegs. The pointed toes allow it to walk slowly and almost noiselessly through the water. Moreover, the colour of the coat provides an excellent camouflage. Hearing is acute, and the ears are so structured that the animal can accurately determine the direction from where a sound has originated. This adaptation is of profound use in habitats where long sight is of very little value due to the density and darkness of the environment.

Ecology: Sitatunga are semi-aquatic and spend their entire lives in the close vicinity of open water habitats, especially of marshes, swamps and floodplains bordering lakes and rivers with permanent water. The most essential requirement is permanent, open water and an evergreen vegetation cover. This habitat is mostly restricted to tropical and subtropical regions between 13°N around Lake Chad and 20°S, and from the western coastline of Africa, eastwards to 35°E. The optimal habitat is swamp with a water depth of up to 1 m with dense stands of papyrus Cyperus papyrus, reed beds of Phragmites mauritianus and Echinochloa sp and beds of bulrush Typha sp bordered by an ecotone of terrestrial thicket or woodland. These reeds generally stand 3-6 m above the water surface. Habitats with shrubby growth, herbs, sedges, tall grasses and palms that border forest waterways are also favored. Sitatunga enter forest clearings, gallery forests and forest islands in savannahs if permanent, open water is present.

Behavior: Sitatunga spend their time in water during most of the daylight hours. In the cooler hours they feed and in the hot midday hours they rest in the shade among reeds on platforms made of debris or broken reed. Late at night, usually after 22h00, they leave the water to browse on neighbouring dry land, returning to the safety of the swamp before the first light of morning. When moving between the swamp and the land they follow a series of footpaths that can either be their own or the paths of hippopotamuses.

When feeding, they are usually solitary and spread over a large area but when alarmed

they become gregarious and aggregate while running for safety. Sitatunga are very shy and avoid detection by crawling beneath thicket vegetation. Danger is detected using a combination of hearing and scent. Their sense of hearing is acute and splashing or movement of the reeds causes them to flee for a distance of 50-100 m. They then stop to re-evaluate the situation and continue to feed once they are no longer under threat. They are good swimmers. If seriously alarmed, they sink under water and swim towards deeper water with only the nostrils showing. The retrieval of a hunted carcass can be extremely difficult as they remain submerged between reeds if wounded. A bull defends itself by attacking aggressively when cornered.

When feeding, the presence of sitatunga is often revealed by the breaking of reed stems, a sound that travels over long distances. Restless and alarmed animals often bark. Ewes have a nocturnal sneezing call and bulls following a ewe, a high-pitched mewing. Old and young sometimes bleat

Predation: Common predators include leopards (Panthera pardus), lions (Panthera leo), African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), and hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). Jackals, Caracals, and pythons may occasionally take calves or infirm adults, though this is usually very rare. Nile crocodiles may also take adults on occasion.

Reproduction: Bulls reach social maturity after 3 years and generally start mating at 3.5 years. Ewes become socially mature at an age of 2 years and begin to mate at 2.5 years. A dominant bull residing with a family group mates successfully with an average of four mature ewes. Mating takes place throughout the year with slight peaks depending on the geographical region. Oestrus occurs every 20 days and lasts for 2 days during which time the bull attempts 7-12 matings per day. Gestation lasts for approximately 165 days after which a single lamb is born, either in a swamp on a platform of debris between the reeds, or in thicket in the forest. The mother hides her sibling for up to 2 weeks. Ewes have 4 teats

and suckling continues until an age of 4-5 months. The very young are unsteady and stumble on their long hooves when moving over land or crossing reeds. Once in the water they dive to escape danger. Birth intervals range from 5.5-9 months depending on environmental factors and animal density. In larger family groups, several ewes in the group are mated with subordinate males that steal in during the night to mate, although very few of these attempts result in conception

Conservation Analysis

Current & Historic range: The Sitatunga probably occurred formerly alongside waterways throughout the lowland forest zone of West and Central Africa, extending into swamp systems in the savanna zones of Central, East and southern Africa. It is now rare and localized in West Africa, with a very small range in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. It may have once occurred more widely in this part of West Africa. It remains widespread elsewhere, from southern Ghana and Benin through the Congo Basin forests and in swamp systems within the savannas of Central, East and southern Africa as far as the Okavango. Long extinct in Niger and probably now also in Togo, but have been confirmed as still surviving in Ghana .

Current & Historic Populations: The cryptic nature of Sitatunga and the relative inaccessibility of their habitat makes reliable estimates of abundance difficult. Aerial surveys tend to grossly underestimate this species’ numbers. Densities of up to 64/km² in Akagera N.P. (Rwanda) and 60/km² in the Busanga Swamps (Zambia) have been recorded. East (1999) estimated a total population of 170,000, but this is likely to be an overestimate. Its numbers are probably decreasing in densely settled areas but stable elsewhere.

Threats to Species Survival: Loss of habitat is the main threat to the future persistence of Sitatunga. The ever-increasing loss of wetlands throughout their range has cut off former routes of dispersal and many populations are becoming isolated. Sitatunga are vulnerable to long-term changes in water level because it alters vegetation structure, which in turn largely determines their distribution and abundance. Habitat fragmentation, and both lower and higher water levels make them more vulnerable to predation and meat hunting in many parts of its range. Swamps are also extremely vulnerable to fire; vast areas of Bangweulu and Busanga are burnt each year. Nonetheless, the Sitatunga shows a remarkable ability to survive near human habitation, provided suitable habitat remains.

Recommended Conservation Actions:

Further resource and manage protected areas where Sitatunga populations exist, especially in wetland areas close to human settlement
Increase surveying capabilities of most of it's populations, especially outside of protected areas, where much about the status of this species is unknown. Camera trapping surveys should be used to.

*Further data on Sitatunga populations and harvest numbers outside of South Africa and Namibia are largely incomplete, and hence it has not been evaluated by us. It is our goal to expand into other African Nations soon, so please do be patient with us.

Map of Sitatunga Distribution

Sitatunga Population Data

Country	Population Estimate	Population Status	Last Assessed
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Uganda
Tanzania
South Sudan
Rwanda
Nigeria
Mozambique
Malawi
Kenya
Gabon
Equatorial Guinea
Democratic Republic of Congo
Central African Republic
Cameroon
Angola
South Africa

Economic & Cultral Analysis

Ecotourism Value: Low - Moderate

Hunting Value: Very High

Meat Value: Moderate to High

Average Trophy Value: $13,000 - $30,000USD

Meat Yield per Animal: 25-55 kg

Economic Value/Impacts: Sitatunga can have significant economic value in many areas, for their meat value, and also for their trophy value. Trophy prices for all Sitatunga can vary significantly based on the country and area, with tags in countries like Botswana and Mozambique being significantly cheaper than in parts of Central and West Africa, where their numbers and trophy quality is significantly lower due to widespread poaching and overharvest. Compared to their other spiral horned relatives, they are very expensive to harvest, being only exceeded by Lowland Bongo or Lord Derby Eland.

Their value to ecotourism areas is very minimal, due their reclusive nature means that they are only really sighted on boat tours through swamps aiming to view more iconic species like Hippos.

Cultural Value: Sitatunga have likely been hunted by humans and our ancestors for millions of years, and due to their relatively large size and slow speed, would have been a staple species for many peoples. This is especially true of people in Central African nations, where the bush-meat trade still supports the diets of many thousands of rural peoples.

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