Antidorcas marsupialis
The Springbok is the only gazelle occurring in South Africa. They are medium-sized antelope, with a shoulder height of 70 – 85cm and a weight of 26 – 50kg, rams being more strongly built with thicker, longer horns than the ewes.
The Springbok prefers open country, occurring from deserts and semi-deserts to dry shrubby plains and grasslands. They are mixed feeders, including a wide variety of grass and browse in their diet. They will drink regularly if surface water is available, but can live for indefinite periods without drinking.
Springbok are herding animals, sometimes congregating in their thousands. In the 1800’s, explorers and settlers recorded springbok treks numbering millions of animals, often taking days to pass through a particular area. Most groups however are much smaller, consisting of about 30 individuals. During the rutting season, adult rams establish small territories in the best grazing areas to which the breeding herds are most attracted. They are most active during early morning and late afternoon, resting during the heat of the day, often out in the open.
The Springbok is well known for their agility and stiff-legged jumping displays, known as “pronking”. They can jump as high as 3.5m, and can reach speeds in excess of 80km/h. It is thought that their “pronking” is an energy-efficient way of displaying to predators that it would not be worth their effort to attempt chasing the springbok. Despite being so fleet of foot, springbok, especially solitary rams, are a staple in the diet of cheetahs and other large predators, and lambs are easy prey for anything the size of an eagle, jackal or one of the small cat species and upwards. Their life expectancy in the wild is estimated at only 10 to 12 years.
Single lambs are born at anytime of the year, though most births coincide with the rainy season. The lambs remain hidden for the first couple of days of their lives, before joining their maternal herds and associating with other lambs in “nurseries” in the herd. Lambs start grazing by two weeks of age and by a month old they can run as fast as the adults. Lambs are weaned by 4 months of age and ewes can start reproducing at 6 months old. In years of good rainfall, adult ewes can lamb every 8 to 14 months. This exceptional fecundity ensures that springbok numbers can rebound quickly when better times return after droughts or disease epidemics.
The Springbok is one of the most common and widespread antelope in South Africa. Their numbers were severely depleted by hunting in the 1800’s and the migrations of herds, millions strong, must have been a sight to behold. They have however been widely reintroduced to their former range, being popular game farm animals, and have also been introduced to areas which they didn’t naturally occupy. Today, the IUCN considers the springbok’s future to be secure, and estimates the population in South Africa at a minimum of 1,25-million animals, with a similar number occurring in Namibia, Botswana and Angola.
The Springbok is South Africa’s national animal, and mascot of the country’s national rugby team (participating in the Rugby World Cup that starts today).
Pingback: Mokala’s multitude of Springbok | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Black-backed Jackal | de Wets Wild
Pingback: A Quick Nature Fix at Rietvlei | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Pilanesberg National Park: 10 – 13 May 2012 | de Wets Wild
Pingback: African Wild Dog | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Exploring Golden Gate | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Dinokeng Game Reserve | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Mokala National Park | de Wets Wild
Pingback: A month of monochrome memories: A Parched Trek | de Wets Wild
Pingback: A month of monochrome memories: Dry Stripes | de Wets Wild
Reblogged this on Sherlockian's Blog.
LikeLike
Pragtig! Ek hou van die aksiefotos. Geniet die feite ook.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Baie gaaf van jou, dankie Spokie!
LikeLike
Baie interessante inligting. Baie dankie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dankie dat jy weer n draai kom maak het by ons, Toortsie!
LikeLike
Very informative and some lovely shots.
An up-to-date fact about them is they don’t take kindly to a UK climate and/or are allergic to Japanese.
LikeLike
😀
I’m sure the researchers who found that out was as surprised by that fact as we, and the Japanese, were!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Now I know it wasn’t an accident you picked this particular animal to focus on as the World Cup begins. Good luck to your Springboks!
LikeLike
Spot on Michael! Though the ‘Boks got off to the worst possible start, with a heartbreaking and totally unexpected loss to Japan!
LikeLike
Op dir Bokke!!! 😉 Dankie… weereens ‘n lekker les!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks man, AJ!
LikeLike
Love these animals
LikeLike
We do too, Linda! Thanks for commenting, and welcome here!
LikeLike
Go Bokke go!
LikeLike
Hoor hoor!
LikeLike
Eish… hulle het toe nie ge-go nie. Die Japanese het hulle stukkend gespeel. Dit gee nuwe betekenis aan rugby.
LikeLike
Ja-Nee, wat n aardskuddende verrassing was dit nie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ek sien die Japannese se een n ontbreek … verlore geraak in die stryd
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was supposed to read *elegant* creatures.
LikeLike
You must have made a Freudian slip thinking about our “elite” rugby team, Janet! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful photos of such elite to creature. (Knew the Rugby reference was coming!) 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you Janet! In a country as sportsmad as South Africa, it seems the rugby’s the only thing on everyone’s mind 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful creatures! Great captures of the jumping and running. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks a lot Amy!
LikeLike
Beautiful animals. Extraordinary photos of them! Loved reading your very informative post about them. 😊
LikeLike
Thank you Alison!
LikeLike
Fantastic shots of these gorgeous and graceful creatures. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Sylvia!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They look like they are totally enjoying life!
IF I could jump that high and run that fast, I wouldn’t have to get stuck in traffic in my car. 🙂
LikeLike
Can you just imagine the expression on the other drivers’ faces as you leap from your car and duck, dive and jump your way past! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person