Mountain nyala

Behavior and diet

The mountain nyala, also referred to as the balbok, is an antelope species endemic to the Ethiopian highlands, east of the rift valley. More than half of its overall population inhabits the northern part of Bale Mountains National Park in central Ethiopia. The males are generally taller and weigh more than the females. Their appearance is characterized by a gray to brown coating with faded stripes, white throat patches, a nose chevron and cheek spots. A male mountain nyala has spiral horns of up to 120 cm long and a short dark crest 10 cm high along the middle back while a female has no horns or crest.

The mountain nyala is generally shy and elusive towards human beings. They tend to move in small herds by age and sex with females and calves grouping together while immature males create bachelor herds. Older males tend to be isolated and are not territorial. They are adapted to cold montane woodlands and forests between 3,000 and 4,500 meters. As herbivores, they forage on leaves, buds, herbs, and fallen fruits. Their gestation period lasts 8-9 months with breeding often peaking in December.

The estimated mountain nyala population is about 2,500; however, it is categorized as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to limitations in geographic range, human encroachment, illegal hunting, and diseases. Further, this encroachment has forced the mountain nyala to occupy heath forests at higher altitudes. The main predators are the lion, hyena, and leopard.