One of the most captivating aspects of working in the bush is the constant element of surprise. Even after years of exploring the same terrain, the unpredictability of wildlife never ceases to amaze. Recently, we had another encounter with a remarkable individual that had us all marvelling at the wonders of nature: the female impala with horns.

In our earlier posts, we detailed our initial discovery of this unique impala and speculated about the genetic anomaly that led to her possessing horns—a trait typically reserved for males. Since then, she has continued to defy the odds, not only surviving but thriving in an environment where standing out can often mean a death sentence.

This was our first view of the impala with the strange-looking horns. Notice how thin they are and then how they take on a very strange shape at the top.

When we first encountered her, her horns were noticeably shorter and had an unusual shape. Now, after several years, they have grown to a length that makes her instantly recognizable. Her continued survival is nothing short of astonishing. In the wild, any deviation from the norm can make an animal an easy target for predators, yet this resilient ewe has managed to blend in and avoid such a fate.

The occurrence of a horned female impala is extraordinarily rare. Impalas are sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females typically exhibit different physical characteristics, with males sporting the iconic curved horns. Hermaphroditism, where an individual possesses both male and female characteristics, is a condition that occasionally occurs due to genetic or hormonal anomalies.

A brief dive into the biology behind this phenomenon reveals that it is likely caused by a hormonal imbalance, potentially involving an excess of testosterone during the developmental stages. Despite this, hermaphroditic impalas are almost always infertile, ensuring that this trait cannot be passed on to future generations through her genetics.

What makes our horned female impala’s story so intriguing is her ability to navigate life in the bush without the usual social or reproductive roles of her species. She interacts with her herd as any other female would, showing no signs of distress or abnormal behaviour. Having just come out of the rutting period, we tended to see her as part of the bachelor herds more so than the female breeding herds.

This sparked a much deeper level of intrigue for me, was this because the female herds avoided her and only wanted to be in the company of the biggest most dominant male? Or maybe she felt that she would blend in better being with the male bachelor herds? However, now that she is part of the bachelor herds, what behaviour would the others show towards her? Would they try to challenge her to a duel? Or would her more submissive nature being female and smaller than the males mean that she just drifted on by within the bachelor herd like the other younger subordinate males?

I have a feeling, this is a case of too many questions and not enough answers, however, I will do my best to unravel as much as I can on this unique scenario. But one thing we can say is that her horns, while initially a point of confusion and curiosity, now serve as a testament to her extraordinary journey.

It’s worth pondering how this unique individual has managed to evade the attention of predators. Perhaps her presence among the herd offers a form of protection, or maybe her resilience and ability to adapt have played crucial roles in her survival. Whatever the case, her story is a fascinating example of nature’s unpredictability and the incredible adaptability of wildlife. So often it is impossible to identify an individual impala due to their uniformity, never really knowing where each individual hangs out how much they move about and roam, or simply the likelihood of each of their survival, but with this female we can tell with 100% accuracy.

As we continue to observe and learn from this exceptional impala, it is a reminder that every day in the bush brings with it the possibility of new discoveries and the chance to witness the extraordinary. If anyone else has come across similar sightings or has insights into the aforementioned questions behind her behaviours during the rut, we would love to hear from you.

For now, we will keep a watchful eye on our horned female, celebrating her as a symbol of nature’s resilience and the endless wonders that make our work so captivating.