The southern mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula) is a member of Africa’s Tiny 10 antelope and native to most areas of sub- Saharan Africa including Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland. They inhabit hilly, broken terrain with grasses and marshes dominating the ground cover. Their conservation status is listed as “least concern” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

There are three different subspecies of mountain reedbuck in Africa:

1. The southern mountain reedbuck in South Africa,
2. Chandler’s mountain reedbuck in East Africa;
3. Adamawa mountain reedbuck in Cameroon and Nigeria.

The mountain reedbuck is fond of areas with scattered trees and water sources nearby, as it needs to drink every couple of days and even more frequently during hotter weather. They are herbivorous, feeding mainly on grass but they also forage for herbs, shoots, leaves and roots.

Mountain reedbucks tend to be active both during the day and at night, with most activity taking place at dusk and dawn. They rest in the shade and stay hidden when temperatures soar, preferring to search for food and water when it cools down. They are social animals and form herds of 3-8 members, larger groups reaching 30 antelopes have been seen but these tend to be temporary with the larger herds dismantling.

The ewe gives birth to a single lamb after an 8-month gestation period. Breeding happens all year around but there is a peak in December and January each year

When it comes to predators, several large carnivores are topping the list of predators including lions, cheetahs, leopards as well as crocodiles, African wild dogs and spotted hyenas.