Klipspringer

Oreotragus oreotragus

General Description

Scientific Name: Oreotragus oreotragus

Subspecies: 11 Subspecies

O. o. aceratos: Tanzanian Klipspringer
O. o. aureus: Golden/Kenyan Klipspringer
O. o. centralis: Zambian Klipspringer
O. o. oreotragus: Cape Klipspringer
O. o. porteousi: Central African Klipspringer
O. o. saltatrixoides: Ethiopian Klipspringer
O. o. schillingsi: Maasai Klipspringer
O. o. somalicus: Somali Klipspringer
O. o. stevensoni: Stevenson's Klipspringer
O. o. transvaalensis: Transvaal Klipspringer
O. o. tyleri: Angolan Klipspringer

Status: Least Concern (unknown)

Population Estimate: 42,000 bare minimum

Population in Assessed Areas: 274

Diet: Herbivore - Primary Browser

Male Size: 8-17 Kgs

Female Size: 9-18 Kgs

Trophy Size: 10.48 cm minimum

Generation Length: 5.4 years

Reproductive Season: Year Round

Time of Activity: Diurnal

Description: Females are slightly larger than males, weighing between 9-18 kg's, whilst males are usually between 18-16 kg's, with both sexes being between 43-60 cm in height. Only rams bear fully developed horns, which are short an spiky at between 7-9 cm long usually, and up to 15cm in exceptional cases.

The coat of the klipspringer, yellowish gray to reddish brown with a white underbelly, acts as an efficient camouflage in its rocky habitat. More golden colored individuals occur more commonly in the Cape, Ethiopian, Golden and Transvaal subspecies, where as coats with a more ochre or rufous colour occur in the Maasai, Stevenson's and Zambian subspecies. Unlike most other antelopes, the klipspringer has a thick and coarse coat with hollow, brittle hairs. However, the coat is a significant adaptation that saves the animal during steep falls and provides effective insulation in the extreme climates characteristic of its mountain habitat. The hair often turns erect, especially if the animal is ill or if its temperature increases. Another feature unique to the klipspringer is its gait; it walks on the tips of its cylindrical, blunt hooves. This enhances the grip on the ground, enabling the animal to deftly climb and jump over rocky surfaces.

Ecology: The preferred habitat of Klipspringers is rocky terrain, with sparse vegetation and low precipitation, raging from sea level, up to around 4,500m in elevation in their Ethiopian range. The klipspringer can occur at high population densities in favourable habitats extending over a large area; 10 to 14 individuals occur per square kilometre in the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. However, the habitat is typically rocky over long stretches and grassy terrain is discontinuous; consequently the population density is typically between 0.01 and 0.1 individual per square kilometer.

They're typically browsers, though will also selectively graze, and will consume fruits and flowers when available. Grasses, eaten mainly in the wet season, form a minor portion of the diet. Some plants, such as Vellozia, may be preferred seasonally. Klipspringer depend mainly on succulent plants, and not on water bodies, to meet their water requirement. They can stand on their hindlegs to reach tall branches up to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) above the ground; some individuals in Namibia were observed climbing Faidherbia albida trees up to a height of 5.4 m (17 ft 9 in).

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Behavior: Typically nocturnal (active mainly at night), the klipspringer rests during the midday and at late night; the animal tends to be more active on moonlit nights. It basks in the morning sunlight to warm itself. A gregarious animal, the klipspringer, like the dik-diks and the oribi, exhibits monogamy to a much greater extent than other antelopes; individuals of opposite sexes form pairs that might last until one dies. The mates tend to stay as close as within 5 m (16 ft) of each other at most times; for instance, they take turns at keeping a lookout for predators while the other feeds, and face any danger together. The klipspringer will hop a few metres away from the danger. Other social groups include small family herds of eight or more members or solitary individuals. Klipspringer greet one another by rubbing cheeks at social meetings.

Predation: significant predators of Klipspringers include leopards, caracals, serval, black-backed jackals, and several species of eagle, including the crowned eagles, including the Crowned eagle, Martial eagle, and particularly the Verraerux's Eagle. Other predators like hyenas (spotted and brown) as well as lions and cheetahs only kill Klipspringers on occasion, largely due to their large habitat differences.

Reproduction: The klipspringer is a seasonal breeder; the time when mating occurs varies geographically. Females become sexually mature by the time they are a year old; males take slightly longer to mature. Mating behavior has not been extensively observed. Gestation lasts around six months, following which a single calf, weighing slightly more than 1 kg (2 lb), is born; births peak from spring to early summer. Births take place in dense vegetation. The newborn is carefully hidden for up to three months to protect it from the view of predators; the mother suckles it three to four times a day, the visits gradually lengthen as the offspring grows. Males are protective of their offspring, keeping a watch for other males and predators. The calf is weaned at four to five months, and leaves its mother when it turns a year old.

Conservation Analysis

Map of Klipspringer Distribution

Current & Historic range: The antelope occurs in significant numbers across eastern and southern Africa, with its range extends from northeastern Sudan, Eritrea, northern Somalia and Ethiopia in the east to South Africa in the south, and along coastal Angola and Namibia. Smaller populations occur in the northern and western highlands of Central African Republic, southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Jos Plateau and east of Gashaka Gumti National Park in Nigeria. It is feared to be extinct in Burundi.

The species occurs across the majority of it's historic range, especially in remote areas with high elevation, where poaching and livestock occur less frequently. It has become rare in lower elevation areas of it's range, largley because overhunting by local people have wiped out populations, and because uncontrolled competition with goats has eliminated it's food soruce.

Current & Historic Populations:. the historic population number of the Klipspringer is largely unknown, though it is likely to be somewhat larger than current populations. Large areas of their range has seen a change in land use over the past 100+ years, switching from a grazing ecosystem controlled by wild grazers, to pastoral land used to graze livestock and house people. These changes have reduced population densities in many areas, due to degradation of habitat and overutilization of by local peoples. Current Population estimates conducted in 1999 place the species at over 42,000 individuals across their entire range, but this may actually me much larger, due to the their reclusive nature making surveying attempts very difficult. it's unknown how these populations have fluctuated since, and hence there is a need to perform more detailed population counts.

Threats to Species Survival: currently, the IUCN sees no major threat to Klipspringer populations on a continent scale, due to their ability to occupy areas not usually conducive to agriculture, and away from most poachers. But less isolated problems are vulnerable to elimination outside of protected areas, especially in it's western and Eastern African range where the bush-meat trade is rampant. around 25% of the population occurs in protected areas, so private land conservation of this species is essential.

Recommended Conservation Actions:

Greatly increased regulation in the Bush Meat industry, including a ban on the sale of blue duiker meat in many parts of their range. This should be done whilst allowing for local subsistence harvests, and regulated tourism hunting.
Promote the application of incentives for landowners to preserve this species on their property.
Increase surveying capabilities of most of it's populations, especially outside of protected areas, where much about the status of this species is unknown.

Economic & Cultral Analysis

Ecotourism Value: Low

Hunting Value: Moderate

Meat Value: Moderate to High

Average Trophy Value: $550 USD

Meat Yield per Animal: 4-7 kg

Economic Value/Impacts: Klipspringer can have significant economic value in many areas, both for their meat value, and for their trophy value. Local villages in arid areas often hunt steenbok as their main source of wild red meat, though this often occurs at unsustainable rates in many areas, especially in the lower elevation areas of their range. Trophy hunting presents a much larger value, as they are a core species in the "Tiny 10" trophy slam, though one of the cheaper species to hunt for this slam. Many properties preserve Klipspringer for this specific reason, especially where raising livestock is not feasible.

Their value to ecotourism areas is significantly less, as their small size and reclusive nature means they often aren't noticed, and if they are, they're often overshadowed by more charismatic megafauna. Also, they occupy remote areas where most tourists never visit.

Cultural Value: Klipspringer have likely been hunted by humans and our ancestors for millions of years, but relatively rarely compared to other small antelopes, largely because of the rough terrain they live in, and how difficult they are to hunt with a bow or spear. Hunting klipspringer with the aid of dogs is still common till this day, as it increases the success of the hunt.

Several indigenous African people consider the Klipspringer as a symbol of resilience, adaptability and agility, Their ability to navigate treacherous terrain serves as an inspiration for individuals facing challenges and obstacles in their lives. Additionally, the Klipspringer’s graceful leaps and bounds are often associated with freedom and liberation.