Saturday, 4 May 2013

Springbok; SIXTH FASTEST ANIMAL ON EARTH

Measurements
  • Their colouring consists of three colours, white, reddish/tan and dark brown.
  • They stands about 70 to 88 cm (28 to 35 in) high depending on the age.
  • Males weigh between 33 and 50 kg (73 and 110 lb) and the females between 25 and 40 kg (55 and 88 lb).
  • They can reach running speeds of up to 96 km/h (60 mph).
  • They can leap 3.50m and can jump of up to 15 m.
  • Rams are slightly larger than ewes and have thick horns
Habitat
  • Springbok live in the dry inland areas of south and southwestern Africa.
Population
  • Springbok occur in numbers of up to 2,500,000 in South Africa.
  • Their numbers have diminished significantly since the 19th century due to hunting and fences from farms blocking their migratory routes.
Food and life
  • They are mixed feeders.
  • They graze on long grasses and browse on shrubs and succulents.
  • They can survive without drinking water over years. In extreme cases, they do not drink any water over the course of their.
Breeding and Young Ones
  • The social structure of the Springbok is similar to the Thomson's gazelle.
  • Bachelor Males and females form separate groups.
  • Single females leave the group to give birth.
  • Mothers and fawns gather in another herds called nursery.
  • New born males in bachelor herd,while young females live with their mothers until they mate and give birth.
Predators
  • Springboks are mostly eaten by Cheetah Leopards Black-backed-jackals and Hyenas.
  • Lions sometimes hunt them.
  • The springbok was hunted by primitive man using stone tools.
  • Springbok are hunted as game throughout Namibia, Botswana and South Africa because of their beautiful coats,and because they are cheap to hunt.

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