Nesotragus moschatus
One of the smallest antelope occurring in South Africa, the Suni weighs only around 5kg and stands a measly 35cm tall at the shoulder. Only the ram carries the short horns, while the ewes are slightly more heavily built.
Sunis are very particular about their habitat, preferring dense, dry thickets in deciduous woodland and riverine forests, often on sandy soils. They are browsers, feeding selectively on nutrient-rich leaves, fruit, shoots, mushrooms and herbs.
Usually encountered singly and more infrequently in pairs or small groups, Sunis are most active from dusk to dawn and have favoured spots where they rest during the heat of the day. Rams mark their territories with their prominent pre-orbital scent glands and dung middens, and both sexes are inclined to use well-trodden paths through their home range, making them especially prone to predation and poaching.
Suni ewes give birth to single lambs, usually during the rainy season. The lambs are hidden for the first few weeks of life, with the ewe returning to them regularly through the day to nurse. The lambs are weaned when they’re 2-3 months old and sexually mature by the time they’re a year old. Their natural lifespan is estimated at 9 years maximum and usually much shorter.
While overall the IUCN lists the Suni as being of “least concern” with an estimated population of 365,000 individuals distributed along Africa’s eastern coast and adjacent interior from Kenya to South Africa, these diminutive antelope are considered to be endangered in South Africa, where they are found only in northern Kwazulu-Natal and the Pafuri and Punda Maria areas of the Kruger National Park (their numbers in Kruger were supplemented by several introductions from KZN, but confirmed sightings remain few and far between). The total population in Kwazulu-Natal is estimated at around 1,500, with the biggest single populations being the estimated 750 protected in the Tembe Elephant Park and around 360 in the uMkhuze Game Reserve. Poaching and loss of habitat are considered the major reasons for their decline in South Africa. Interestingly, burgeoning populations of elephant, nyala and large predators in conservation areas have a severely negative effect on the Suni, as they suffer heavily from predation and the larger herbivores denude the lower shrub layer so crucial to the Suni’s survival. Thankfully Sunis breed well in captivity and this offers hope for their reintroduction into areas from which they’ve disappeared locally.
DeWetsWild 
Your photos are wonderful. We have only seen suni partially concealed in sand forests at Mkhuze. Thanks for the detailed information about their numbers and about the threats to their survival. It is good at least that they breed successfully in captivity.
Great post about an animal many probably don’t know exist
Thank you very much! Indeed, they are not well known, not even among the people of this country.
Hulle is so klein en oulik! Het af en toe van hulle in die Dlina bos daar in EShowe gesien!
Jy was baie gelukkig om hulle dan omtrent op jou voorstoep te kon sien, Aletta. Vandag lyk dit my is daar nie meer soenies by Dlinza nie, net nog n paar blouduikertjies.
Dis waar, dit het net verdwyn!
Het jy dalk van jou ou bure gehoor hoe dit nou gaan in Eshowe na die onrus?
Ja, dit gaan sommer al baie beter. Die dads army het oor geneem en staan wag. Niemand kan sommer net in die dorp inkom nie. Hulle bewaak al die ingange. Wit en bruin en swart saan saam! Besig met opruiming. Kos kom darem in😊
Ai, ek is bly om dit te hoor. Die dorpie het so verwelkomend gelyk toe ons dit besoek het.
Dis ongelooflik hartseer om te dink alles is omtrent verwoes.
Hoe bitter jammer
Dit is🙄
Thanks for this wonderful look at sunis, beautiful creatures.
Thanks, Jet – they sure are!
Small fella but I’m sure those pointed antlers hurt!
😀
I’m sure their horns will leave quite a puncture!
They look like such a delicate little creature, Marilize. Their eyes are huge! Sorry some of the larger mammals eat the plants within their reach in parts of their range.
You’re right about them being delicate, Siobhan, and they certainly deserve to be protected!
These Suni antelopes are cute little creatures, I just hope that never get to be endangered species. Great post, D. Nice shots Joubert! 🙂
Thanks, H.J, and I will pass your congratulations to Joubert too.
Oh, my, they’re adorable! Apropos of nothing here, are you a rugby fan? The Springboks fell apart in the second half to end up losing to the England and Irish team. My husband played rugby for a number of years so if we can watch, we do. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to see the 7’s at the Olympics because we don’t have “regular” TV.
janet
Sad as it is, we have to admit that the Lions played the better game on Saturday and deserved the win over the ‘Boks. Will we be seeing you in the stadium for the game this Saturday again, Janet?
Sorry, no. We’ll be headed for Wyoming. 😁
Well, that’s an acceptable excuse!
😉. More than acceptable although we’d love to see the game.
Beautiful antelope and, as always, so well photographed.
Thanks very much, John
Such beautiful eyes these creatures have…
So large and innocent-looking, isn’t it Lori?
These Sunis are such beautiful animals. I hope they will never be endangered.
Let’s hope that the captive breeding projects save them from that fate, Hien.
Darem n kleine bokkie. Amper si groot soos Trompie lyk dit my. Weereens dankie vir die interessante inligting.
Jy is in die kol met jou skatting van hul grootte, Ineke. In ons land is net die blouduiker kleiner.
Another important species highlighted by you. Beautifully photographed too.
Thank you very much, Anne
So cute!
Indeed they are, Merilee. Welcome here!