Cephalophus natalensis
The Red Duiker is a small antelope found in indigenous forests and other densely vegetated habitats on the wetter eastern side of South Africa. Despite their richly coloured coats, these diminutive antelope blend in perfectly with their dappled forest habitat, where they feed mostly on leaves, shoots, fruits and berries.
Adult red duikers stand only between 35cm and 48cm at the shoulder, and weigh between 10 and 18kg. Both sexes carry short horns, often obscured by a tuft of hair on the crown.
Red duikers are mostly encountered alone or in pairs consisting of either a ram and ewe, or a ewe with her lamb. Single lambs are born at any time of year, weighing less than 1kg at birth. They are very shy and rush away quickly at the slightest indication of danger, unfortunately mostly along well-worn paths which makes them vulnerable to ambush predators like pythons and leopards, as well as poachers. Their natural life expectancy is 8 to 12 years.
Although the IUCN estimates that wild populations of the red duiker are declining, they are considered to be safe from extinction as the species finds protection in several well managed Parks and reserves. In our opinion the best place to get a glimpse of this beautiful little antelope is at Cape Vidal and Mission Rocks in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and at Umlalazi Nature Reserve, though we’ve also seen them at uMkhuze Game Reserve, Tembe Elephant Park, in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and at Ithala Game Reserve.
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I love these sweet creatures. I always stop to watch them when I see them in zoos.
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They are very interesting to watch, that is when they’ll allow you the chance 😉
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They’re so cute!
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Definitely Michael. Thanks!
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They look like such sweet little creatures!
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You can’t help but feel all “warm and fuzzy” when you see a red duiker, Lois 😉
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So dainty and often very nervous.
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Very true Dendymactoodle, they can disappear in the undergrowth in a flash when anything bigger arrives on the scene.
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Dis die mooiste ou bokkies. Daar het jare terug (1996) nog grys duikertjies in bosse by die golfbaan in Potties geloop. Ek het soggens vroeg met honde gaan loop en gereeld eenetjie gesien. Tot n kleintjie ook op n stadium. Toe een oggend het iemand hul gevang en afgaslag. Ooi se karkas het nog daar gelê. Dis aaklig om sulke goed te sien.
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Wat n vreeslike ondervinding moes dit nie gewees het nie, Ineke! Die bokkies was natuurlik mense gewoond en maklike prooi. Ai.
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Netso! Elke oggend het ek spoortjies gesien en geweet sy het haar roete geloop. Later die klein ou spoortjies saam met mamma sn. Daar was ook n itermagog wat gereeld spore gelos het op grondpad van sy gat af en terug! Eenkeer hom selfs skrams gesien oppad gat toe! Is darem maar wonderlik om sulke mooi dinge te kon belewe.
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I was not familiar with these little guys until I saw one this last weekend roaming among the nyalas at our St. Louis Zoo. I had to look it up when I got home. At first I thought it was a baby nyala. I guess it wasn’t a baby. Probably an adult even though small compared to the nyala.
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What a coincidence, Rosemarie! Indeed, even adult red duikers are a lot smaller than nyalas.
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Yes, they are. Now I know.
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