Editing Sable antelope (section)

==Behavior==
Sable antelopes live in savanna woodlands and grasslands during the dry season,<ref name="Estes1992">{{cite book|author=Richard Estes|title=The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_0520080858|url-access=registration|quote=sable.|year=1992|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-08085-0}}</ref> where they eat mid-length [[grass]]es and [[leaves]]. They visit [[salt licks]] and have been known to chew bones to collect [[mineral]]s. They are [[diurnal animal|diurnal]], but are less active during the heat of the day. They form herds of 10 to 30 females and calves led by a single male, called a bull. Males fight among themselves; they drop to their knees and use their horns.<ref name="Roenning">{{Cite web|title=Hippotragus niger (mbarapi)|url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hippotragus_niger/|last=Roenning|first=Eric|website=Animal Diversity Web|language=en|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref>

In each herd, the juvenile males are exiled from the herd around 3 years old. All of the female calves remain, however. When the herd gets too large, it divides into smaller groups of cows and their young. These groups form new herds, once again with only one adult bull. The young males, which have been separated from the herd, associate in "bachelor groups" of up to 12 individuals. Among the bachelors, the most dominant is the first individual to join a new group of females when the position is open. Seldom, during their fights for [[Dominance (ethology)|dominance]], they are able to inflict bodily harm to any contenders.<ref name="Roenning" />

When sable antelopes are threatened by predators, including [[Lion|lions]], they confront their attackers and fight-back aggressively. Using their scimitar-shaped horns that can reach to its vulnerable rump area (which is generally preferred by predators), they can impale their enemy. There are instances where their predators have died during such fights. In the 1950 to 1970's the antelope's numbers were reduced severely by [[tsetse fly]] pest outbreaks.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

The grassland habitat of the sable antelope is being reduced by habitat destruction for agricultural development. Sable antelope are important to their habitats as grazers and browsers. They are also important as prey for carnivores.<ref name="Roenning" />

=== Reproduction ===
The giant sable antelope's breeding season is seasonal and births coincide with the rainy season. After a gestation period of around 9 months, the female gives birth to a single young. A newborn calf is born with a sandy coloured coat, which helps it to camouflage. The calf will lie hidden away for at least 10 days while being nursed by its mother.

Young sable antelope are weaned at around 8 months and will become sexually mature at between 2 and 3 years. As the calf develops, its coat will darken and it will achieve its status within the herd. The life span of a giant sable antelope is around 17 years.<ref name="Sable Antelope, Nairobi">{{Cite web|title=Sable Antelope, "Nairobi" -|url=https://outofafricapark.com/meet-the-animals/sable-antelope-zambezi/|access-date=2021-01-21|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Diet ===
Sable antelopes are [[herbivore]]s. They are specialized [[Browsing (herbivory)|browsing]] animals that feed upon foliage, mid-length grasses, leaves and herbs, particularly those that grow on termite mounds. Tree leaves make up 90% of their diet. They are [[Diurnality|diurnal animals]], meaning they are most active in the daylight, but less active during the hottest part of the day. Like other [[Bovidae|bovids]], they also have a [[ruminant]] digestive system.<ref name="Sable Antelope, Nairobi"/> Because water is essential to the sable antelope's survival, it travels every two to four days to drink at water sources.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00848.x|first1=J. W.|last1=Cain III|first2=N.|last2=Owen-Smith|first3=V. A.|last3=Macandza|title=The costs of drinking: comparative water dependency of sable antelope and zebra|journal= Journal of Zoology|year=2012 |volume=286|issue=1|pages=58–67}}</ref> The sable antelope presumably decreases its risk of being eaten by predators by staying away from feeding areas with high numbers of other grazers, but at the cost of prolonged and strenuous journeys to water. Use of specific water sources in particular regions is related to the presence of calcium and magnesium salts in the water, allowing the antelope to consume large amounts of minerals while meeting their water needs.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Wilson|first1=D. E.|last2=Hirst|first2=S. M.|year=1977|title=Ecology and factors limiting roan and sable antelope populations in South Africa|journal=Wildlife Monographs|volume=54|issue=54 |pages=3–111|jstor=3830391 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3830391}}</ref>