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The impala is a survivor. It lives on the African plains where there is seldom rain, and they are under constant attack from lions, cheetahs and many other predators. The impala lives in herds of up to one hundred animals. The impala is considered a grazer; it does not have a constant diet he changes his diet according to the season and the area they are in.
The female impala does not have horns and she is much smaller than the male. The male’s horns are a symbol of his maturity. The male and female are rather alike in all other characteristics. They both have a long muzzle and pointed ears. The impala’s sense of sight, hearing, and smell are extraordinary. They use these three senses in grazing and most important in defense against predators. The impala has a straight back this acts as a shock absorber when it does its high leaps. The impala also has a built in tracking device, he has a scent gland above his hoof, and the impala is able to lay a scent down for use as a tracking device to find his way back to his herd.
When the impala eats he usually consumes grass and leaves. Since Africa is full of grasslands the impala has a variety of choices for food. He must drink after his meals, so his feeding ground is usually around a watering hole. When the dry season comes around the impala is able to survive by drinking the dew from the leaves to quench his thirst.
The female impala has a higher population than the male, the female outnumber the male two to one. So when breeding season comes around, which is March to June and again from September to November the male impala has his choice of mate. During this time the female herds break up into groups of about fifteen to twenty-five females to one male.
The weaker males stay in what is known as bachelor herds, when the head male is finished mating, he may let the weaker male have a turn at mating. The female delivers one young impala in about eight months. The young stay hidden by the female until it is strong enough to stay with the herd. Almost one half of the young do not survive, because predators usually kill them.
The impala is not extinct and its numbers are reported to be strong.
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