Puku
Kobus vardonii
Silhouette: Jan A. Venter, Herbert H. T. Prins, David A. Balfour & Rob Slotow (vectorized by T. Michael Keesey) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderArtiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans)
- FamilyBovidae (Bovids)
- GenusKobus (Waterbucks, Kobs, and Lechwes)
- SpeciesKobus vardonii (Puku)
About the Puku
The puku (Kobus vardonii) is a medium-sized antelope found in wet grasslands in southern Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and more concentrated in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Nearly one-third of all puku are found in protected areas, zoos, and national parks due to their diminishing habitat.
Puku stand about 80 cm (31 in) at the shoulder and weigh from 70 to 80 kg (150 to 180 lb). The puku is sandy brown in colour, with the underbelly a slightly lighter brown. The coat is rougher than that of the similar-sized southern reedbuck, lechwe or impala, or the smaller oribi. Males have horns which are ridge-structured, 50 cm (20 in) long, and lyre-shaped.
There are two subspecies, the Senga Puku (Kobus vardonii senganus) and the southern puku (Kobus vardonii vardonii). Puku are found almost exclusively in marshy grassland and dambos, where they eat grasses. The puku diet is flexible in regards to type of grasses consumed. There is little dietary competition with other bovids. This species is crepuscular, active in the early morning and late afternoon. When scared, puku repeat a shrill whistle sound. Females gather... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Puku in Kafue National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kafue National Park
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Lechwe
Kobus leche
Northern Bushbuck
Tragelaphus scriptus
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Roan Antelope
Hippotragus equinus
Hartebeest
Alcelaphus buselaphus
Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Sable Antelope
Hippotragus niger
Blue Wildebeest
Connochaetes taurinus
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Sharpe's Grysbok
Raphicerus sharpei
Southern Reedbuck
Redunca arundinum
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kafue National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 2 | South Luangwa National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 3 | Chobe National Park | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 4 | Lower Zambezi National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Puku in Kafue National Park?
About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Puku sighting in Kafue National Park, based on 89 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Puku in Kafue National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Puku in Kafue National Park in our monthly data.