Observations on the feeding ecology of impala

Abstract

The distribution, habitat preference, and diet of impala in mixed wooded savanna were studied. In the wet season impala were evenly distributed through the different vegetation types and their diet was predominantly grass, but in the dry season they concentrated in areas of Acacia savanna and changed to a mainly browsing diet. The amount of grass in the diet was related to plant moisture content and recent effective rainfall. The impala selected succulent food rich in crude protein but preferred grazing to browsing when palatable grass was available. These factors and the presence of fallen Acacia pods probably attracted impala to the Acacia areas in winter.