A tour guide at the MalaMala Game Reserve in South Africa witnessed a remarkable sight of a female impala giving birth to a baby impala, who was able to walk just minutes after being born.
According to the Latest Sightings website, the guide named Mrisho Lugenge led a group of tourists on a safari to the northern part of the reserve, where they happened to witness the entire birthing process of an impala.
Lugenge described how as they approached a group of impalas, he saw a scene unlike anything he had ever seen before. It became evident to him that one of the impalas was in labor.
He observed that the complete amniotic sac of the impala mother was partially visible. After some time, the sac broke, revealing the protruding hoof of the baby impala.
During the labor pains, the impala mother would repeatedly lie down and get up, while the visible part of the baby impala continued to grow. Eventually, the entire body of the baby impala dropped onto the grass, and the impala mother immediately turned to look at her newborn.
The baby impala instinctively attempted to stand up from the grass. Despite falling several times, within a few minutes, it was able to stand and take its first steps in life. Guided by the impala mother, it slowly began to run.
In order to evade predators, the baby impala must stand and nurse quickly after birth to keep up with its mother.
Impalas are social animals, and shortly after birth, they join a nursery group formed by older members of their kind. This provides them with protection in a group setting.
Therefore, impalas establish relationships with peers early on, enhancing the cohesion of the future group.
However, before grazing to supplement their diet, baby impalas rely on their mother’s milk for about 10 days after birth.
(Click here to watch the related video)