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One of the attractions to visit Kruger in November for me, is to see impala lambs. They are really so cute.

The myths and facts on the whole lambing issue have been discussed on these forums some time back but in scattered topics.

Do the impala wait for the summer rains to start before dropping their lambs? This is a myth I have read.

Now in the park, and watching for lambs, and especially hoping to see a birth, I would like to ask the experts, what are the signs that a ewe is going to give birth. How long will the process last. Does anyone know the success rate of the lambs born in one year making it to maturity.

We observed a ewe yesterday that was holding her tail up, and she seemed to be dilating ... is this a sign she would give birth soon, and how soon? She was separate from the herd, but feeding comfortably.

We also saw a carcass of a lamb, taken by a baboon right after birth, on the S100. I have witnessed baboon actually eat a baby impala ....

Please help debunk the myths and shed some further light on this wonder of nature .... the lambing of impala.

Excellent topic!

Simple logic shows the 'waiting for rains' story to be a myth. The longer a baby takes to be born, the bigger it is - many human mums have discovered this! So 'holding on to the baby' would not be a good idea even if they could do it. The birthing time is determined by the rutting season. However once the ewes begin giving birth the rest of the ewes are triggered into also giving birth so the babies arrive at much the same time.

The ewe will move away from the rest to give birth, so at the moment a ewe on her own looking a little nervous may be about to give birth, or even have recently given birth....