Black duiker

The black duiker, known locally as "tuba" in Dyula, is a small forest antelope indigenous to the lush landscapes of southern Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria. Standing about half a meter tall at the shoulder and weighing between 15 to 20 kilograms, these distinctive animals are easily recognized by their black fur, rust-colored heads, and long, slender horns.

Black duikers inhabit lowland rainforests, where they consume a diet of fallen fruits, flowers, and leaves. They are presumed to be diurnal and prefer solitary lives, each maintaining its own territory.

Regarding reproduction, black duikers breed year-round. After a gestation period of about 126 days, females give birth to a single offspring. The young duikers, weighing approximately 1.94 kilograms at birth, stay close to their mothers and are weaned by the age of three months. In captivity, these animals can live up to 14 years.

Currently, the black duiker population is estimated at about 100,000 individuals. However, they face significant threats from hunting, leading to a concerning decline in their populations across their natural range.