Animal Fact: Hartebeest evade predators by running in zigzag patterns.
Commonly known as the red hartebeest, it is the most colorful hartebeest, with black markings contrasting against its white abdomen and behind. It has a longer face than other subspecies, with complex curving horns joined at the base. Hartebeests have an excellent sense of hearing and smell, although their sense of sight is poor. When alarmed, hartebeests elude confusion before running, by which they can reach a maximum speed of 55 km/h. Their evasion tactic is to run in a zigzag pattern, making it difficult for predators to catch them. The hartebeest adapts very easily to desert-like vegetation but needs daily water. They are difficult to hunt. You often find lone bulls and even bachelor herds of up to 15 bulls. Females are mostly in herds of up to 30 animals, depending on the vegetation available.
