Antelopes !!

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Africa has the majority and widest variety of antelope of any of the continents.
Belonging to the cow family, antelopes are either grazers or browsers, and chew their cud.
Depending on their adaptations, they often live in extremes of environment.


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The Klipspringer, but one of the numerous smaller buck, is a good example of adaptation.
It inhabits stony regions and has oval hooves with long narrow soles and blunt tips which allows it to bounce confidently from rock to rock like no other antelope can.


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Impala tend to inhabit acacia and mopane woodland, a good source of high-protein.
Prolific breeders, they are a major food source for predators, especially lions.


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Unlike the Impala, Nyala males and females are not similar. Not only do males have horns where the females do not, they are also darker and heavier, weighing about 136 kg.
In the rutting season, the males of these species use their horns in battle to establish 
territories.


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The magnificent Kudu is widespread throughout Southern Africa.
The male can weight 300 kg and have horns measuring 1,8 meters !


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Impala are "browsers" and will eat the leaves from a tree or graze from the ground.

Gemsbok are specially adapted to the heat of desert wastelands like that of the Kalahari and Namib.
They can tolerate a body temperature increase of about six degrees above the 37°C regarded as normal for most mammals.
Gemsbok usually gather in herds of about 12 individuals, although smaller groups are common.
The males and females are similar, and unlike the Impala and Nyala, both sexes have long straight horns.
The Gemsbock's water intake is supplemented by desert plants and dew and it is able to go for long periods without water, for its body is able to conserve fluids.
In addition, the Gemsbok angles a cylindrical body away from the sun in order to reduce heat absorption to the least possible extent.


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Waterbuck are found mainly near permanent water sources and have the distinguishable white target-like marking on their rump.


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Springbok, known for their "pronking" (bounce jumping), can jump up to 15 metres in lenght, and 2 metres in height !

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Like the Gemsbok they are also well adapted to arid regions, but are usually found in much larger herds.

Blesbok are easily confined within farm fences, and are ideal for game farming.
As with most antelope in the wild, up to 80% of blesbok ewes will lose their calves to predators, often swamping them with easy food, and thus helping the stronger young to survive.

Oribi are a prime example of buck whose existence is threatened.
Because of their preference for open grassland, they are vulnerable to poachers, and lose their habitat to farmers.




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