CC BY 4.0
Lesser kudu
Tragelaphus imberbis, 1910
About the object
The lesser kudu is a medium-sized species of antelope native to the thornbush savannahs and acacia woodlands of East Africa. The bulls can reach a body length of up to 170 cm and a weight of 108 kg, whereas the cows are somewhat smaller and lighter. The colouring of the coat varies from light ochre-brown to grey, turning blue-grey with age. Thin, clear white vertical stripes run up and down the torso. White patches appear on the upper and lower neck and the smaller patches on the cheek and the stripes running above the eyes and around the lips are likewise white. A bull’s main is short and begins on the neck and extends along the back. Only the bulls have horns. The spiral horns are between 60 and 90 cm long and have two to three turns.
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Hunting attracts around 18,500 tourists to Africa every year. Trophy hunting is particularly lucrative business in a number of African countries. Supporters of hunting argue that legalised, regulated hunting protects the welfare of the animals; a country that makes money from an animal will consequently act in the interest of preserving that species for generations to come. In fact, a number of animal protection authorities are only economically viable due to the income derived from hunting. Hunting bans would fuel poaching and the black market trade for wildlife, while unregulated hunting may threaten animal species with extinction. As a rule, it is the hunters themselves who must assert themselves against poachers. On the other hand, it is ethically untenable to kill animals purely for pleasure. Hunting rights are invariably not transparently allocated. Often, killing endangered species is not banned but rather a question of money. Private hunting farms breed sought-after species that, once having reached a particular age, are released for the hunt, or as the case may be released into a game reserve where they may be shot. It is typical for a trained guide to accompany or lead hunts. Trophy hunting normally constitutes the main income of game farms. The lesser kudu is a species that is typically bred on game farms.
