Editing Lesser kudu (section)

===Reproduction===
Both the males and females become sexually mature by the time they are a year and a half old. However, males actually mate after the age of four to five years.<ref name=adw/> Males and females are most reproductive till the age of 14 and 14–18 years, respectively, with the maximum age of successful lactation in females being 13–14 years.<ref name=rep/> With no fixed breeding season, births may occur at any time of the year. A study at [[Dvůr Králové Zoo]] ([[Czech Republic]]) showed that 55% of the births occurred between September and December.<ref name=rep>{{cite journal|last=Váhala|first=J.|title=Reproduction of the lesser kudu (''Tragelaphus imberbis'') at Dvůr Králové Zoo|journal=Zoo Biology|date=1992|volume=11|issue=2|pages=99–106|doi=10.1002/zoo.1430110205}}</ref> A [[Rut (mammalian reproduction)|rutting]] male tests the urine of any female he encounters, to which the female responds by urinating. Having located a female in [[estrus]], the male follows her closely, trying to rub his cheek on her rump, head, neck, and chest. He performs gasping movements with his lips. Finally, the male mounts the female, resting his head and neck on her back, in a similar way as other tragelaphines.<ref name=kingdon/><ref name=estes/>

The gestational period is 7-8 months, after which a single calf is born. A female about to give birth isolates herself from her group, and remains alone for some days afterward. The newborn calf weighs {{convert|4|-|7.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. Around 50% of the calves die within the first six months of birth, and only 25% can survive after three years. In a study at [[Basle Zoo]] ([[Switzerland]]), where 43% of the offspring from captive breeding died before reaching the age of six months, the major causes of high juvenile mortality were found to be the spread of [[white muscle disease]] and deficiency of [[vitamin E]] and [[selenium]] in diets. The herd size, sex, interbreeding, and season did not play any role in juvenile mortality.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Besselmann|first=D.|author2=Schaub, D.|author3=Wenker, C.|author4=Völlm, J.|author5=Robert, N.|author6=Schelling, C.|author7=Steinmetz, H.|author8=Clauss, M.|title=Juvenile mortality in captive lesser kudu (''Tragelaphus imberbis'') at Basle Zoo and its relation to nutrition and husbandry|journal=Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine|date=March 2008|volume=39|issue=1|pages=86–91|doi=10.1638/2007-0004.1|pmid=18432100|s2cid=22836125|url=https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/3424/5/JZWM_Besselmann_kudu_2008V.pdf|access-date=2019-12-12|archive-date=2017-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924143612/http://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/3424/5/JZWM_Besselmann_kudu_2008V.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The mother hides her calf while she goes out to feed, and returns mainly in the evening to suckle her young. She checks the calf's identity by sniffing its rump or neck. In the first month, suckling may occur for 8 minutes. The mother and calf communicate with low bleats. She licks her offspring, particularly in the [[Perineal body|perineal region]], and may consume its excreta.<ref name=kingdon/><ref name=estes/>