These endemic Bontebok were photographed on an Aves Western Cape Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa.

Bontebok

The bontebok - Damaliscus pygargus pygarus - is an endangered antelope endemic to the Fynbos biome in South Africa. It is a tall, medium-sized antelope, with two subspecies, the endangered bontebok occurring naturally in the Fynbos and Renosterveld areas of the Western Cape, and the Blesbok - Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi - occurring in the Highveld.

Description

The bontebok is a chocolate brown colour, with a white underside and a white stripe from the forehead to the tip of the nose, although there is a brown stripe across the white near the eyes in most blesbok. Bontebok also has a distinctive white patch around its tail, while this patch is light brown/tan in blesbok. The horns of bontebok are lyre-shaped and clearly ringed. They are found in both sexes and can reach a length of half a metre. Males are slightly larger and noticeably heavier than females.

Food

The Bontebok is a herbivore, it eats plants, grass, leaves and wild grass.

Breeding

They are short-day seasonal breeders, mating in early with the rut taking place between the months of January to mid-March. The territorial males court the females with a display involving tail over the back and holding the head low with outstretched and the tail horizontal. A male may sniff the vulva of a female and if she is not receptive she will run around him closely to avoid his attentions. During this "mating circling" the female holds her head low in the submissive attitude. During the rut the frequency of the courtship display may be as high as once an hour, but is not confined to the period of the rut and may be performed in all seasons of the year. Conception rate is influenced by rainfall prior to the breeding season. The gestation period is between 238 and 254 days. Lambs are born in the spring, between September and November, with late arrivals up to the end of February, the peak months being September/October. Females become sexually mature at just over two years old, having their first lambs at about three years old. The young females remain with their mothers after their new lambs are born, as a member of the herd.

Asks Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a tour for you to see these beautiful antelope or book on one of the following Aves scheduled tours: -

Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure.