Bontebok
The Bontebok’s conservation story is a wild one! In the early 19th century there were only 17 Bontebok left in the wild because they were hunted to the brink of extinction for their pelt and meat. A farmer fenced in his sheep and accidentally trapped all of the Bontebok because while many antelope are graceful enough to jump fences, Bontebok are not known for their jumping skills! In the 1930s their numbers were in the hundreds but a national park in South Africa was declared to focus on their conservation and their numbers increased to around 3,000 today.
While most antelope species will “tuck” their young away to hide them from danger for the first 4 weeks of their life, Bontebok young “follow” their mothers as soon as they are born
Size: ~3 feet at the shoulder weighing around 175 pounds
Features: Both males and females have lyre-shaped horns up to 2’ tall. The Bontebok has a brown coat that can look purple on top in certain light, white belly, and a distinctive white facial stripe.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Range: Western Cape in South Africa now largely confined to protected areas, most notably Bontebok National Park
Range area of Bontebok in Africa
