Springbock Antidorcas marsupialis (Zimmermann, 1780)
English: Springbuck; French: Springbok, Antidorcas; Afrikaans: Springbok; Damara: !!gūb; Herero: Omenja; Iswana: Ishepe; Kung: g!ai, g!čµ, cae; Kwanyama: Omenje; Ovambo: Omanje; Sechuana: Tsipi; Xhosa: Insephe; Zulu: Insephe.
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Former distribution: From south-western Angola south to Namibia, Botswana and in South Africa to Transvaal, Orange Free State and Cape Province.
Present distribution: As formerly, but in restricted areas in Angola and South Africa.
Behaviour: Preferred habitat: open, semi- desert, grassy plains; gregarious, living in small herds of up to hundreds, sometimes thousands and more; diet includes grasses and leaves, bushes and shrubs; grazers and browsers, and active by day and at twilight. Predators include lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, and jackals.
Population status: Stable. Endangered in Angola.
Brief notes:
Body weight: 25-45 kg
Head and body length: 125-150 cm
Tail length: 25-32 cm
Shoulder height: 75-90 cm
Gestation period: 167-171 days
Maximum age: 10 years
Trophy: Record (Antidorcas m. marsupialis) SCI: 44 7/8 score, 1984 Cape Province, ABNER M. CLEMENTS; average 30 score.
RW’s: 19 3/8, 1973 South Africa, B.L. STEENKAMP; average 14".
Hunting methods: Stalking.
Subspecies: 3, ROBINSON (1975) doubts that these 3 subspecies should be recognized.
1. Antidorcas m. marsupialis
Cape Province, Orange Free State, Transvaal in South Africa. Stable.
2. Antidorcas m. hofmeyeri
Central Namibia to Botswana. Stable. Trophy: Record SCI: 50 7/8 score, 1985 South Africa, WILLIAM E. Moss; average 38 score. RW’s: 19", Botswana, Kalahari, W.F. WEBB; average 13". CIC: 95.30 points, Namibia, K. DIETER; average 90 points
3. Antidorcas m. angolensis
South-west Angola. Endangered. Trophy: Record SCI: 42 4/8 score, 1968 Angola, DR. CARLO CALDESI; average 37 score. RW’s: 15 1/2", 1967 Angola, C. CALDESI; average 13".
Remarks: The Angola Springbuck - if not yet extinct - is declining due to the war. More information on its population status and distribution needed. In 1896 - due to drought and lack of food - millions of springbucks migrated to the sea and died. Farming and the introduction of domestic livestock, hunting pressure and Rinderpest at the end of the last cqntury led to near total extinction of springbucks in this range. A reintroduction of springbucks took place into nearly all the suitable provinces of South Africa and into Texas, USA. Today these animals are again safe in the wild, as well in fenced, private farms.
Bilder:
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