Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi
The Blesbok is a medium-sized antelope endemic to South Africa’s central plains. They have a shoulder height just short of 1m and weigh around 70kg. The “bles” in their name refers to the striking white blaze on their faces.
The Blesbok naturally occurs only on the open grasslands of South Africa’s Highveld, where they are well adapted to the cold winters, though they have been introduced to farmland in the more densely wooded Bushveld and drier Karoo regions as well with varying success. Their diet consists almost exclusively of short grasses and require daily access to a supply of fresh drinking water.
Blesbok form large mixed herds during winter, but at the onset of the summer the rams will start establishing small territories, demarcated with scent glands and dung heaps, advertised through ritualised displays and maintained through some serious fighting, in which they attempt to herd and keep groups of ewes with which to mate. Blesbok are diurnal animals, resting during the heat of the day by positioning themselves with lowered heads facing the sun. Blesbok are fast runners with great stamina. When moving, herd members follow each other in a straight line, even when fleeing from predators.
Ewes give birth to single lambs, usually in the summer months, and will nurse only their own lambs. Lambs are capable of running with the herd within 20 minutes of birth, and are preyed upon by jackals, caracals and feral dogs. Most of Africa’s large predators have been exterminated from the Blesbok’s range. They have a life expectancy of up to 17 years in the wild.
The Blesbok once occurred in enormous numbers on the Highveld of South Africa, but excessive hunting led to the population plummeting to a low of about 2,000 at the end of the 19th century. Their numbers have since been built back up, but not nearly to erstwhile levels, with the IUCN estimating a population of approximately 240,000, most of which occur on private land where they are a popular game ranching animal as they can be contained by standard stock fencing. Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Rietvlei Nature Reserve and Willem Pretorius Game Reserve are good places to go searching for Blesbok.
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I have loved these twisted horns since I first saw them…as a child. They are so elegant.
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Absolutely! The horns suit the animal perfectly.
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Wonderful post, Dries. I especially love your last image. 🙂
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Thanks very much, Sylvia!
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Weereens leersame artikel en besondere foto’s,Dries!
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Baie dankie vir die gawe kommentaar, Dina!
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Ek het al baie soorte bokkie sien links of regs swenk as hul probeer wegkom maar nie DIE menere nie. Kan iemand së hoehom?
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Miskien het sekere blesbok-bevolkings dit afgeleer omdat hulle nie meer oor roofdiere bekommerd hoef te wees nie? Soos die ander “hartbeeste” is blesbokke eintlik baie vlugvoetig!
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😉 Ek kan getuig blesbok maak lekker biltong! 😛
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As ek n bok was en ek sien jou oor die horison kom sou ek dadelik begin hardloop het, AJ! 😀
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Wyse woorde!! 😉
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Die ou blesbok lammetjie is so pragtig! ( Jammer ek was so lanklaas hier! )
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Altyd lekker wanneer jy hier kom kuier Aletta. En blesboklammetjies in beslis oulike goedjies!
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Makes great biltong!!
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Dit is so, Pieter – lekker om jou weer hier rond te sien!
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Dis lekker om terug te wees!
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Ek dink nogals dis ‘n bok wat ons glad nie in die Wes-Kaap mag aanhou nie omdat hulle kan kruis met ons bontebokke, wat nét so min is.
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Ek dink jy’s heeltemal reg, Toortsie! Verbastering met die blesbok is een van die grootste bedreigings vir die bontebok se voortbestaan.
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Maybe that’s where Loki’s (Thor’s brother) costume was inspired from!
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Good observation, Maida! They do look very stoical, don’t they?
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Yes, they do! I have to remember its name!
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Do they not sit down to rest when they face the sun?
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We’ve seen them lying down only very rarely, and then perhaps only one or two in the herd, Lois. I think they feel very vulnerable that low down, as then they can’t see danger approaching as easily as they can when standing up.
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Ah, that makes sense. Thanks so much!
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What beautiful horns they have, Grandma! The big bad wolf might like to eat one, but it might be difficult. 🙂
janet
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Better not to start at the head then!
Thanks for the smile, Janet!
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