Tag: Antelopes of Serengeti

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania covers an area 14,750 square kilometers and it is one of the best destinations to enjoy game viewing while on an Africa Safari. How many animals live in the Serengeti? Serengeti boasts around 300 mammal species with more than 80 different species of large mammals that comprise the Serengeti wildlife population. Antelopes being the largest in number. According to the park records there are about 16 different antelope species in this park the graze on the vast plains. One would wonder how is the Serengeti able to keep the population of antelopes in check and avoid wildlife population explosion. well the answer is simple – these antelopes as a main source of food to the different predators such as crocodiles, lions, hyenas and leopards found in this park (which is believed to have the largest number of predators on the African continent). The commonest types of antelopes found in Serengeti National Park Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) Also known as Mendes antelope, the Addax has a characteristic white color covering its entire coat of far except within its face. Generally this antelope is considered to be highly threatened with the biggest threat to their population being illegal hunting as well as loss of their habitat to human activity. The females and males have characteristic horns that grow to approximately 3.5 feet in height with the male ones being longer. Unique about this specie is that they can survive without water for quite some time, and can obtain all the water they need for their survival from just the foliage they eat. It is for that reason that the Addax is sometimes referred to as a desert antelope. African Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) This African Oryx is considered to be one of the most endangered species within the