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Kudu Bull - Majestic A grand, Greater Kudu bull poses for the camera. Its cousin, the Lesser Kudu, looks pretty much the same, except that it is much smaller in size. <br /> <br /> One can judge the age of a Kudu bull by the way its horns turn. This guy, for example, is fully mature and estimated at 12 years old. His horn tips point forwards, and then out again (which is rather rare and a true sign of his age). He will now start to deteriorate in condition over the next few years. Depending on the rainy season (food availability), he will live another 3 years max. <br /> <br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/26624/kudu_bull_calf_-_horns_and_age.html" title="Kudu bull calf - Horns and Age"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2011/26624_thumb.JPG?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1761782410&Signature=ph2n6Dm695oMyoBMAy%2B14v6EOII%3D" width="200" height="134" alt="Kudu bull calf - Horns and Age A Greater Kudu bull calf with horns barely showing. This guy is weaned and will now start feeding on vegetation (leaves). With the horn tips about 2 inches out, he is about 7 months old. Geotagged,Greater Kudu,Namibia,Tragelaphus strepsiceros,Winter,alert,cute,ears,horns" /></a></figure><br /> A 7 month old bull, horns about 2 inches showing. This guy is weaned, but will remain with his mother and herd for the next 2 years at least.<br /> <br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/26621/kudu_bull_-_horns_and_age.html" title="Kudu bull - Horns and Age"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2011/26621_thumb.JPG?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1761782410&Signature=625GgxDjc9xZUAdjBLenaarie%2FU%3D" width="200" height="134" alt="Kudu bull - Horns and Age A Greater Kudu bull with his horns just starting to go into its first spiral. One can determine age by the shape of the horns. Thus, this bull is 15 months old. Note how this rather bland coloration blends in perfectly with the surroundings. Geotagged,Greater Kudu,Namibia,Tragelaphus strepsiceros,Winter,bull,coloration,horns,spiral,water" /></a></figure><br /> A 15 month of bull with his horns starting into the first turn / spiral. <br /> <br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/26622/greater_kudu_bull_-_age_of_horns.html" title="Greater Kudu Bull - Age of Horns"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2011/26622_thumb.JPG?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1761782410&Signature=7DpaowWMyGq59yNyVGwP7axjwlw%3D" width="102" height="152" alt="Greater Kudu Bull - Age of Horns A Greater Kudu bull with his horns turning into the second spiral, making him 30 months old. Geotagged,Greater Kudu,Namibia,Summer,Tragelaphus strepsiceros,age,alert,bull,curious,horns" /></a></figure><br /> A bull with its horns turning into the second spiral, making him 30 months old. <br /> <br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/26623/greater_kudu_bull_-_age_of_horns.html" title="Greater Kudu Bull - Age of Horns"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2011/26623_thumb.JPG?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1761782410&Signature=pDpIbvGbt%2FPdjEnKf0zHy0O0I80%3D" width="200" height="160" alt="Greater Kudu Bull - Age of Horns An alerted Greater Kudu bull with its enormous ears stares into the lens (which caused the disturbance). <br /> <br /> This bull&#039;s horns are nearly &quot;complete&quot; / finished growing. With 3 spirals done, all that is left is for the very tips to turn forwards before this bull is considered fully mature. Thus I would conclude this bull is just under 6 years old (70 months). Geotagged,Greater Kudu,Namibia,Tragelaphus strepsiceros,Winter,alert,curious,ears,horns,pose" /></a></figure><br /> A 70 month old bull, nearly considered fully mature. Once the tips turn forwards, he is done growing. Geotagged,Greater Kudu,Namibia,Spring,Tragelaphus strepsiceros,bull,focus,grand,horns,impressive,spiral,stare Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Kudu Bull - Majestic

A grand, Greater Kudu bull poses for the camera. Its cousin, the Lesser Kudu, looks pretty much the same, except that it is much smaller in size.

One can judge the age of a Kudu bull by the way its horns turn. This guy, for example, is fully mature and estimated at 12 years old. His horn tips point forwards, and then out again (which is rather rare and a true sign of his age). He will now start to deteriorate in condition over the next few years. Depending on the rainy season (food availability), he will live another 3 years max.

Kudu bull calf - Horns and Age A Greater Kudu bull calf with horns barely showing. This guy is weaned and will now start feeding on vegetation (leaves). With the horn tips about 2 inches out, he is about 7 months old. Geotagged,Greater Kudu,Namibia,Tragelaphus strepsiceros,Winter,alert,cute,ears,horns

A 7 month old bull, horns about 2 inches showing. This guy is weaned, but will remain with his mother and herd for the next 2 years at least.

Kudu bull - Horns and Age A Greater Kudu bull with his horns just starting to go into its first spiral. One can determine age by the shape of the horns. Thus, this bull is 15 months old. Note how this rather bland coloration blends in perfectly with the surroundings. Geotagged,Greater Kudu,Namibia,Tragelaphus strepsiceros,Winter,bull,coloration,horns,spiral,water

A 15 month of bull with his horns starting into the first turn / spiral.

Greater Kudu Bull - Age of Horns A Greater Kudu bull with his horns turning into the second spiral, making him 30 months old. Geotagged,Greater Kudu,Namibia,Summer,Tragelaphus strepsiceros,age,alert,bull,curious,horns

A bull with its horns turning into the second spiral, making him 30 months old.

Greater Kudu Bull - Age of Horns An alerted Greater Kudu bull with its enormous ears stares into the lens (which caused the disturbance). <br /> <br /> This bull's horns are nearly "complete" / finished growing. With 3 spirals done, all that is left is for the very tips to turn forwards before this bull is considered fully mature. Thus I would conclude this bull is just under 6 years old (70 months). Geotagged,Greater Kudu,Namibia,Tragelaphus strepsiceros,Winter,alert,curious,ears,horns,pose

A 70 month old bull, nearly considered fully mature. Once the tips turn forwards, he is done growing.

    comments (7)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Oh my god, that's a lot of beauty and education in a single post, one of your best ever! Posted 10 years ago
    1. View Living Wild's profile
      Living Wild
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Thanks Ferdy friend. Yeah, I really like this feature where you can add on photos to demonstrate something. Unfortunately I am running out of different (new) species, so have started to go into individual species again, and am trying to share something not commonly known, or not indicated in the species descriptions - Wiki (which is very good by the way.

      Appreciate your support, as always.       Posted 10 years ago
      1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
        Ferdy Christant
        Lion
        View Lion class
        Glad you like the feature, and please, do not hold back if you have anything to share on species we already know here. Posted 10 years ago
    3. View Living Wild's profile
      Living Wild
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Oh my, just read the species description properly ... they have the age thing in there. I kind of feel embarrassed (didn't really share anything new), but at least Wiki and my age determining factors are pretty close to each other. Thank goodness. Posted 10 years ago
      1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
        Ferdy Christant
        Lion
        View Lion class
        Don't be embarassed, it is in fact much better if somebody explains in their own words and experience such knowledge about wildlife. The Wikipedia text is a starting point, I invite everyone to enrich it. Posted 10 years ago
  3. View travismorhardt's profile
    travismorhardt
    Lion
    View Lion class
    A really great and educational post! I really enjoy reading your descriptions and information you give with your photos. Keep it up :) Posted 10 years ago
    1. View Living Wild's profile
      Living Wild
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Thanks Travis, really appreciate the comment, and glad you like the post. I am now in the process of trying to become a more regular user of this site (vote more, comment on other photos etc.), so my posts might dry up a bit. Thanks again for your support. Posted 10 years ago

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The Greater Kudu

The Greater Kudu is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, due to a declining habitat, deforestation and hunting.

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Similar species: Even-toed Ungulates
Species identified by Living Wild
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By Living Wild

All rights reserved
Uploaded Feb 19, 2015. Captured Nov 1, 2013 10:24 in D2874, Namibia.
country flag of Namibia Explore Namibia 750 405 0
  • Canon EOS REBEL T2i
  • f/9.0
  • 1/395s
  • ISO250
  • 267mm

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