Because water is essential to the sable antelope's survival, it travels every two to four days to drink at water sources. The sable antelope presumably decreases its risk of being eaten by predators by staying away from feeding areas with high numbers of other grazers, but at the cost of prolonged and strenuous journeys to water. Scientists have found that the sable antelope's use of specific water sources in particular regions was related to the presence of calcium and magnesium salts in the water, allowing the antelope to consume large amounts of minerals while meeting their water needs.
References:
- Cain, J. W.; Owen‐Smith, N.; Macandza, V. A. (2012-01). "The costs of drinking: comparative water dependency of sable antelope and zebra". Journal of Zoology. 286 (1): 58–67. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00848.x. ISSN 0952-8369.
2. Wilson, David E.; Hirst, Stanley M. (1977). "Ecology and Factors Limiting Roan and Sable Antelope Populations in South Africa". Wildlife Monographs (54): 3–111. ISSN 0084-0173.
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