By Drew Stazesky (University of Vermont)
Imagine a dwarf antelope, reddish in color with absurdly large ears and small, delicately spiked horns (on the male only). Individuals don’t stand more than 60cm tall and weigh an average of 13.2kg. And when this dwarf antelope runs away from you and your vehicle, it looks somewhat reminiscent of a fleeing rabbit (bounding and zig-zagging away into the scrub). The image that comes to my mind with this description is that of a steenbok (Raphicerus campestris).
Steenbok are found throughout southern Africa, with their northern most range being in Kenya. This antelope species is found in relatively open areas with sparse, yet consistent, shrub/scrub cover to act as camouflage and hiding spots from predators. Often, when we have seen steenbok here in Botswana, they have been in an open area typically resting under the shade of a Kalahari apple-leaf (Lonchocarpus nelsii). Steenbok blend in very well with the tall, dry grasses and sometimes the only times we’ve seen them is as they zig-zag away. This has given us several good opportunities to observe their well-muscled hindquarters—a cute little antelope butt if I must say so myself.
Steenbok are a species which are known as “water-independent,” and this means that their movements and home ranges aren’t limited because of the location or abundance of open water. Instead of relying on open water sources, they get their water from the grasses and leaves that they graze and browse upon. This also explains why we have seen them in such arid habitats/areas where other wildlife has been relatively scarce.
Our first encounter with a steenbok was in late September, when we were moving to our first official bush-camp in Maghoto. We came across a pair, one male and one female, just 20m from the roadside. They were out in the relative open and we got a great opportunity to observe their behavior. We saw that the male was very interested in the female’s scent, and was following her closely and sniffing at her backside while she nibbled, undisturbed, at some sparse grass. Even though the female moved off, and didn’t seem too interested in the male’s advances, he remained close and persistent. This pair was a potential mating/breeding pair, and if the male remained persistent enough, the female might allow for his advances to go to the next level.
Steenbok can form monogamous pairs for the breeding season, and as a result they will share a territory. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that the pair is inseparable, and more often than not we have seen just one steenbok grazing or resting in the shade. We have also seen a few pairs grazing together, and on one occasion I even saw a group of three steenbok (two male and one female, a possible love triangle?).
Another little tid-bit about steenbok is that they bury their dung to help minimize any traces of their presence from predators and/or potential rivals. They use their dainty front hooves to dig a small hole, do their business, and then scrap the sand/dirt back over the hole. Only once have I had the opportunity to see some steenbok scat, because they hide it so well…
Steenbok have become one of my favorite antelope species here in Africa, and I’m always excited when I spot one resting in the shade, running away, or better yet—looking back over its rump to stare at me.