Springbok Antelope

(Antidorcas marsupialis) Springbok inhabit the dry inland areas of south and southwestern Africa. Their natural range extends from the northwestern part of South Africa through the Kalahari desert into Namibia and Botswana.

ID
A medium sized brown and white gazelle that stands about 28 to 34 inches high. Their colouring consists of three colors – white, reddish/tan and dark brown. Their backs are tan in color with underparts white.  Along each side they have a dark brown stripe extending from the shoulder on to the inside thigh that separates upper and lower parts. White faces with a dark streak running from eye to nostrils.  Males have thick, ringed horns that grow upward and curve inward in a crescent shape approximately half way up their length.  Male horns typically range from 11 to 14.5 inches, but can reach nearly 20 inches in exceptional cases.  Females have horns that are thinner, shorter and usually straighter than male counterparts.  Springbok males weigh between 70 and 110 lbs and the females between 60 and 90 lbs.

Behavior
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”.   Avoid high, dense vegetation and steep or rocky hills.  Congregate on short, green grass during rainy period where there is tender, fresh growth.  During drought, tend to come together and migrate seeking forage.  Stay in mixed herds except in breeding season.  Then females and young males split into separate herds, while adult males become territorial.

Food Habits
Eat mainly fresh, green grass.  Will also take to tender forbs.  Switch dependence to browse during dry periods.  May dig up roots and bulbs.  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.  May accomplish this by selecting flowers, seeds, and leaves of shrubs before dawn, when these foods are most succulent.

Breeding
Tend to breed early in dry season which often peaks in May.  Some breeding said to occur all year.  Births usually occur at the beginning of rainy season (summer).  Females have a gestation of 5.5 months and give birth to a single young.  Males become mature at around 1.5 years, with females as early as 6 months in good range conditions.

Life Span
Up to 12.5 years in the wild and up to 17 years in captivity.

Keeping Springbok
Extremely gregarious animals.  Fighting can sometimes lead to injury due to body attacks.  Fencing of 7 feet is usually sufficient, though able to leap 10 to 12 ft in air when alarmed.  Leaping is generally not used to clear obstacles.  Prefer to crawl under fence as opposed to going over.  Rutting males are very noisy.

Springbok Hunting
Expect to pay from $3,000 to $5,000 for a trophy springbok hunt in the U.S.  The average cost is ~$4,500.