Reproduction
Both males and females reach sexual maturity at 1.5 to 2.0 years of age. Births peak in between March and October. The frequency of matings depend upon the environmental conditions. The more favorable the conditions, the more the matings occur. Zoo males are active in autumn. Courting is done through the means of a mating circle. The male and female stand parallel to one another facing opposite directions. They then circle around one another until the female allows the male to mount from behind. However, if the female is not ready to mate, she can run away and circle in the reverse direction. Ejaculations occur in 30 minutes of courtship. Pregnant females leave the herd for a week, give birth to the calf and reconceive during their postpartum estrus, with which it can produce a calf a year. The gestation period lasts about 9 months, after which a single offspring is born, weighing 20 to 33 pounds (9.1 to 15 kg). Within hours after birth, both mothers and calves return to the main herd. The female separates herself from the herd for a few hours while she nurses the young. Weaning starts at 3.5 months. The young become fully independent at around 14 weeks of age.
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