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This springbuck having a drink from a pool of water was photographed in the Kgalagadi National Park located in the Nort west of south Africa between Namibia and Botswana. The National animal of south africa and the name given to the sporting teams in the early 1900's, especially the rugby team. A real pleasure to watch as they go about their daily tasks. The males often claim an area and will stay there for days on end trying to entice females to stay with them. Any other male will be chased off agressively.
Springbok (antelope)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Springbok (Afrikaans and Dutch: spring = jump; bok = antelope or goat) (Antidorcas marsupialis) is a medium sized brown and white gazelle that stands about 75 cm high. Springbuck males weigh between 33-48 kg and the females between to 30-44 kg. They can reach running speeds of up to 80 km/h. The Latin name marsupialis derives from a pocket-like skin flap which extends along the middle of the back from the tail onwards. When the male springbok is showing off his strength to attract a mate, or to ward off predators, he starts off in a stiff-legged trot, jumping up into the air with an arched back every few paces and lifting the flap along his back. Lifting the flap causes the long white hairs under the tail to stand up in a conspicuous fan shape, which in turn emits a strong floral scent of sweat. This ritual is known as pronking from the Afrikaans, meaning to boast or show off.
Springbok inhabit the dry inland areas of south and southwestern Africa. Their range extends from the northwestern part of South Africa through the Kalahari desert into Namibia and Botswana. They used to be very common, forming some of the largest herds of mammals ever documented[1], but their numbers have diminished significantly since the 19th century due to hunting and fences from farms blocking their migratory routes.
Although they were once scarce, Springbok numbers have increased and they are now almost as abundant as before, thanks to conservation and efforts by the South African hunting industry.
Appearance
Springbok are between 70-80 centimetres tall at the shoulder, depending on the age, weight and gender of the particular antelope, they weigh between 30-44 kg for the females and 33-48 kg for the males. Their colouring consists of three colours, white, reddish/tan and dark brown. Their backs are tan coloured and at the bottom they are white, along each side there is a dark brown stripe extending from the shoulder on towards the inside thigh.
Rams are slightly larger than ewes and have thick horns, the ewes tend to have skinnier legs and longer, more frail horns. Average horn length for both genders is 35 cm with the record being a female with horns measuring 49,21 cm in length. Springbok tracks are narrow and sharp and are 5,5 cm from point to point.
Habitat and diet
In South Africa springbok inhabit the vast grasslands of the Free State and the open shrublands of the greater and smaller Karoo. In Namibia they live in the grasslands of the south, the Kalahari desert to the east and the dry riverbeds of the northern bushveld of the Windhoek region. In Botswana they mostly live in the Kalahari Desert in the southwestern and central parts of the country.
Springbok mostly eat grass, leaves, shoots and other small plants although their favourites include the sweet succulent shrubs of the Karoo.
Conservation
Since prehistory the springbok was hunted by primitive man using stone tools.[2] Up to present times springbok are hunted as game throughout Namibia, Botswana and South Africa because of their beautiful coats, and because they are very common and easy to support on farms with very low rainfall, which means they are cheap to hunt as well. The export of springbok skins mainly from Namibia and South Africa is also a booming industry.
Conservation methods and responsible hunting restrictions may prevent a further decrease of numbers.
Behavior
Main article: Pronking
Springbok often go into bouts of repeated high leaps (up to 11 feet) into the air in a practice known as "pronking" (Afrikaans: pronk = to show off) or "stotting". While pronking, the Springbok leaps back into the air as soon as it comes down, with its back bowed and the white fan lifted. While the exact cause of this behaviour is unknown, springboks exhibit this activity when they are nervous or otherwise excited. One theory is that pronking is meant to indicate to predators that they have been spotted. Another is that Springbok show off their individual strength and fitness so that the predator will go for another (presumably weaker) member of the group. Another opinion is that Springboks and other similar antelopes do this to spray a hormone that is secreted from a gland near the heel. When the chase of a predator is finished, Springbok can find their ways back to original grazing area where they started.
The Dutch/Afrikaans term Trekbokken refers to the large-scale migration of herds of Springbok that were seen roaming the country during the early pioneering days of South Africa before farming fences were erected. Millions of migrating Springbok formed herds hundreds of kilometers long that could take several days to pass a town[3]. These are the largest herds of mammals ever witnessed.[4]
Springboks can meet their water needs from the food they eat, and survive without drinking water through dry season, or even over years. Reportedly, in extreme cases, they won't drink water over the their entire life. Springbok may accomplish this by selecting flowers, seeds, and leaves of shrubs before dawn, when these foods are most succulent[5] |
Mikolaj, nglen, Noisette, vanderschelden, ingridshaul has marked this note useful
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