Quote Originally Posted by TStone View Post
They are not here naturally, they were brought in 12 - 15 years ago. Initially they hardly bred and few lambs survived. Then, about 5 years ago numbers started growing and the condition of the animals improved.
I would guess that the closest naturally occurring population of impala was simply too far away and there was no benefit for them in moving South or West. Kudu also did not occur here naturally until they started moving into this, and other karoo areas, several years ago. Apparently, kudu started spreading due to the spread of trees (notably sweet thorn and karee) into these areas.
Thanks
Do you have any idea what changed / what was the reason for the Impala numbers to start growing ?
Change in vegetation / climate / less predation -- some other factor ?

When I was in Game Capture we would put some of the liquid content of a healthy local animals stomach in the drinking trough where new captures would drink in order for the local micro-flora to be taken up by the new animals.
It was suggested that this would help in the digestion / processing of the new local vegetation in the new location ( some of the same species but slightly different due to different local soils / geology )
Nature is endlessly fascinating