I have been using this post as a guide for something of a guide for hypothetical ungulate mixes instead of asking for each one, but have a few questions.
- Is the idea that one species from each size class would work with one species from each other size class, or would, as an example, white-bearded wildebeest and lesser kudu together be compatible with impala?
A mix of sizes was specifically requested in the post I replied to, so that is what I provided. It is not necessarily a hard and fast rule that these mixes work better --they just provide more visual interest to the exhibit. That said, sometimes having species of different sizes can work better because they are not in direct competition with each other and are sometimes less likely to see each other as rivals. Wildebeest, lesser kudu, and impala is a mix that has been successfully before. Wildebeest are known aggressors towards offspring of other animals, though, so you would have to consider their management if you wanted to breed any of the other species.
How well do springbok, Grant's gazelles, Somali wild asses, and fringe-eared oryx do with other species?
Springbok usually do fine with other animals, they just tend to be quite fractious in smaller spaces. The males are ones that are notorious for trying to fight above their weight class, though, so that is just something to keep in mind. Both of these are also true for Grant's gazelles. Somali wild asses have the same general tendencies of other Equids, so they do not always do very well in mixes unless there is a lot of space. I certainly would not want to be breeding any other animals with them. In my experience, though, they due tend to have better temperaments than zebras. They're my preferred Equid by a mile. Fringe-eared oryx are probably the most mild-mannered of the oryx taxa along with the scimitar-horneds, so you can get away with more with them than gemsbok or Arabians. That said, they are also more flighty than the other oryx and require more space.
I've read that lechwe are best suited for larger enclosures, but are they tractable with other species?
Both species of lechwe generally do fine with other species. The biggest issue is that the Niles, specifically, are highly fractious.
Could male waterbuck, wildebeest, and gazelles be managed in the same enclosure as long as females aren't present, with one male absent to breed?
This would be a gamble. With enough space, this
might work, but it also could very easily go south. The presence of females does not automatically decrease the probability for aggression. Once these animals get to sexual maturity, they will start to spar and fight whether there are females present or not. Yes, the presence of females will increase fighting, but it will happen either way. Bachelor herds are really tricky to get right, and even then, they usually still have an expiration date. They seem to work best if the animals are either born from the same herd or to a lesser extent if the animals are introduced to each other at a young and similar age. It is very hard to introduce adult males to each other with no prior familiarity with each other. It is also very difficult to reintegrate a male into a bachelor herd after he has been with a breeding herd. He will then most often have little tolerance for the other males
Are there any proven mixes with bontebok or Cape buffalo?
Would a herd of 1.3 Cape buffalo be too aggressive for 1.3 bontebok
or 1.6 Grant's gazelles if one of the males was separated?
@Kudu21, do you have any thoughts?
Bontebok seem to do very poorly in mixed-species exhibits to the point that I do not think it is worth trying -- especially given how valuable they are. They are aggressive, unpredictable, and territorial.
Cape buffalo are an interesting one because while they are known for being very aggressive and territorial, they are not usually instigators. They very much keep to themselves unless provoked, but if they feel threatened, especially if they have calves, the whole herd will act together against the threat. They are fiercely protective of each other. They do not usually go out of their way to be aggressive towards other animals in the way that bontebok or sable or wildebeest sometimes do. Most other animals seem to know that when the buffalo are present the buffalo are in charge, and the other animals give way to them. The key is absolutely space. The other animals need to have space to keep away from the buffalo, and the buffalo need space so that they do not feel threatened or trapped. With that, I would say no to the bontebok
But perhaps to the gazelles if there is enough space.
