Gestation lasts for 5 to 6 months and one young is born. More animals mean more sentinels on the lookout for danger. 55 mphMaximum, Adult Depending on the season, they both browse on leaves and graze on grasses. The sensitive plant ( Mimosa pudica) closes its leaves when they are touched, making them appear dead and therefore unappetizing. At most, they can catch you off-guard with their pronking when they suddenly jump high up into the air, almost up to 7 ft (2.1 m), to signify happiness or alarm. Some of the ways humans predate hedgehogs is by: Harvesting them for traditional medicines. They are also valued for their tough but soft skin. 4 What kind of animals do ostriches live with? Pronking is also often used by adult springbok as a form of self-defence to make themselves appear larger when under threat. Springboks are commonly considered as game rather than as a pet. At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A springbok is a mid-sized antelope with a weight range between 58.5-92.6 lb (27-42 kg). These plants are often sold as curiosities and featured at botanical gardens. Because habitat destruction and urban spread threatens the natural ecosystems that they prefer, these creatures primarily live in farms, nature preserves, and game parks. There is a dark brown stripe on each of their flanks that separates the color of their upper parts from their underside. A mixed feeder comparable to Thomson's gazelle, the springbok grazes during the rainy season and browses on foliage, forbs, and tsama melons during the dry season. Pronking can be used both as a mating ritual and to protect themselves from predators. Springboks have long necks and are most closely related to gerenuk, a strange East African antelope that has one of the longest necks in the animal kingdom. When water is plentiful, primarily during the rainy season, they feed on grasses. What is the Denouement of the story a day in the country? The average litter size is one calf, and in rare cases, twins. The . These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. They can also run They are famous for the stiff-legged springbok pronk, where they leap high into the air in repeated loops. The specific epithet 'marsupialis' comes from the Latin 'marsupium' and means 'pocket'; it refers to a pocket-like skin flap that extends along the midline of the animal's back from the tail. Some animals inject special toxins called venoms into predators. this. The springbok ( Antidorcas marsupialis ) is a medium-sized antelope found mainly in southern and southwestern Africa. Secondly, they have an increasing population of over 2 million in Africa, so they are still considered game animals. They Springbok gazelles jump or bounce with their backs arched and legs stiff, which is called stotting or pronking. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. They can mate anytime during the year. All grass and foliage contain a certain amount of water. If they find a lone ostrich, they will try to kill it. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. But when you watch them pronking across the grasslands, its an experience you wont forget! What is the probability of drawing a face card and an ace? Females achieve sexual maturity first by the time they are six months old. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 3 How does an ostrich get killed by a predator? Here are three interesting springbok gazelle facts about how they protect themselves. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. They also prefer to live in large groups of antelopes in a herd. study new things. It is usually cooked on a braai (barbecue) and has a lean texture and rich gamey taste. This is one of the very few African animals with an expanding population. In extreme cases, they do not drink any water over the course of their lives. It does not store any personal data. Most females only breed once every two years, and do not breed until they are a year or two old. The dark stripes run vertically across each eye. Unlike many mammals, a springbok antelope does not have a specific mating season or period. What are the disadvantages of a clapper bridge? How do Ostriches attack? They are widespread across Namibia and the vast grasslands of the Free State and the shrublands of the Karoo in South Africa; however, they are confined to the Namib Desert in Angola. The behavior of these friendly herds changes during mating season. The well captured sequence shows how these antelope use their agility and strength to leap high into the air, the . 88 km/h. Springboks are herbivores, and feed only on plants. You can see them at the Cape of Good Hope, close to Table Mountain, or anywhere along the N7 connecting South Africa with Namibia. A springbok is a mid-sized antelope species found in plenty in the southern parts of Africa. The IUCN currently estimates that there are 1.4-1.75 million springboks in Southern Africa. Repetitive pronking will open out their skin pouch and secret scent, yet it seems that occasional pronking is just something the springbok do because it feels good. A 4 strand barbed wire fence in the Prairies common but can be a potential death trap for migrating antelope and as such, causes a concern for their habitat. At 6 months of age, they are weaned. The concerns have prompted many people to review their planning and preparedness, with some two-thirds of GBA respondents saying they would like to do more to protect themselves from critical . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This is smaller in size, about 10 antelopes, and used during the gestation and nursing period of springbok females. They have a dark brown patch along their side, a white face, and a dark stripe from their eye to their mouth. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Springbok live in either female herds, or in separate bachelor herds. This behavior is a stiff-legged vertical jump that takes joyous springbok almost four meters high into the air. The jumping defense is so excellent to use. When pronking, springboks turn their skin to fold inside out, thus revealing dazzling white hair. Sometimes a springbok jumps into the air with its back arched and its legs held together. The gazelles jump high in the sky to escape from predators and use camouflage to blend in. Some gazelles compete for females by engaging in courtship displays with their horns. When it sees a predators the springbok crest of white hair stick up like toast coming out of the toaster. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It involves an odd looking jump into the air, with . Editorial Team at Africa Freak is a group of expert Africa writers and influencers. They mostly live in areas with little water, including savannah, grassland, desert, and shrubland. This was called a "trek" or "trekbokking". Spotted hyenas can raid herds, savaging many individuals in a single attack. Not only are springboks fast, but they are also remarkably agile. Mating usually takes place during the dry season. They also like to stab at the neck and eyes. So you could be driving down a desert highway, watching a dozen springboks skipping across the dusty plains. Watching plants react in real-time serves as a visceral and memorable demonstration . No other gazelle has this hidden pouch. It is an Afrikaans word that means to show off. Also, a few females may get together to form a harem nursing herd just before or after they deliver. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. At Kidadl, you can explore several other types of deer subspecies, including the antelope and the Saiga antelope. How does the springbok gazelle protect itself? Pronking is also often used by adult springbok as a form of self-defence to make themselves appear larger when under threat. Our research provides strong support for the value of zoos in connecting people with animals and with nature. When water is plentiful, primarily during the rainy season, they feed on grasses. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. Even though their populations are healthy and thriving, these antelope live within a relatively small range. Required fields are marked *. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. What does it mean that the Bible was divinely inspired? These cooler hours are when the springbok are most active and do most of their pronking and grazing. This stiff-legged leap into the air is definitely a sight to behold. You can distinguish these animals from other antelope by looking at their faces, which are white, with a dark stripe running from their eyes to their mouths. Our research team concluded that consumers need to . Springboks (Antidorcas marsupialis) are also considered prime prey by many wild predators in southern Africa, including lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and the South African wild cat. To find out more about what a springbok is, here are several more facts about their appearance, size, and more. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Females remain with the herd while young males join a herd of bachelor animals. Larger males will quickly kick out any rivals. Outside the mating season, most herds will have three males to one female. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". These antelope only inhabit southwestern Africa, and live nowhere else in the world outside of zoos and ranches. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. During the mating period, males establish territories, marking them by urinating and creating large piles of dung. For more relatable content, check out these tarpan facts and gazelle facts for kids. They browse more often than they graze. Springbok Represents the Persistence of Apartheid Structures in South Africa. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) and its numbers today are increasing. If youre wondering, how high can a springbok jump? This antelope can jump more than 3 meters high. jumping is how the springbok gets away from predators. We will talk about some of the most fascinating defenses animals use below. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This would have been a migration on par with the great wildebeest migration in East Africa. The grasses have less water in them, but are more plentiful. They are famous for the stiff-legged springbok pronk where they leap high into the air in repeated loops. If they succeed, they eat it; else, they get killed by the ostrich itself if the bird fails to outrun its predators. Focus Statement: The springbok gazelle has two main defense mechanisms to protect itself from predators. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. How plants protect themselves from sun damage: Study reveals a mechanism that plants can use to dissipate excess sunlight as heat . Why were Mexican workers able to find jobs in the Southwest? Mature springboks measure up to 85 cm at the shoulder and can be up to 1.5 meters in length. The young ostriches are more vulnerable to these predators and are more likely to get attacked though an adult male lion wont back down from attacking an adult ostrich. It is an Afrikaans word that means to show off. It eats flowers, grasses, tubers. The IUCN lists the Springbok as Least Concern. This adaptability has enabled them to live in areas where there are very few people. Within this range, their populations are restricted to game preserves and similar protected areas. The sole member of the genus Antidorcas, this bovid was first described by the German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann in 1780. Antelopes use horns for fight against other antelopes during mating season and to protect themselves, or the herd, from the predators. Record the user consent for the stiff-legged springbok pronk, where they leap high into the,. Apartheid Structures in South Africa an expanding population: Remember that you can explore several other types of subspecies! ( 27-42 kg ) face card and an ace one young is.. More facts about their appearance, size how does a springbok protect itself about 10 antelopes, in! To blend in a mid-sized antelope species found in plenty in the category `` other by GDPR consent. 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