kob

Kob refers to several antelope species in the genus Kobus, native to sub-Saharan Africa. The most well-known is the common kob (Kobus kob), a semi-aquatic grazer that favors river valleys, floodplains, and wetlands in western and central Africa. Other Kobus species are commonly grouped under the broader term kob, including forms commonly called waterbucks and related relatives.

Physically, kobs are medium-sized antelopes. They typically have a tawny to gray-brown coat with lighter underparts, and both sexes bear horns, with males having longer, thicker, and more curved horns than females. They are well adapted to life near water and are capable swimmers, often found along lakes, rivers, and marshes.

Ecology and behavior: kobs form social groups that vary in size from small herds to larger aggregations, especially during seasonal migrations. They are diurnal and feed primarily on grasses and herbaceous plants, with browsing taking place in drier periods. Movements often follow rainfall and flooding patterns, and individuals may disperse during the damper seasons while returning to water sources at other times.

Reproduction: breeding can occur year-round in some areas and seasonally in others. After a gestation of about eight months, a single calf is usually born, with twins being rare. Calves are kept hidden for the first weeks and then join the herd as they grow.

Conservation: the genus Kobus has a broad distribution and, overall, the species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Local populations face threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and hunting, but many regions sustain sizable populations within protected areas.