Klipspringer Hunting African Safaris

Klipspringer

(Oreotragus oreotragus)

Current all time records
SCI: Score 16 14/16 - Zimbabwe, Chirsa - 12/85
Rowland Ward: Score 6 3/8 - Gravelotte, N. Prov., RSA - 1993

Description: The short coat is made of hollow, brittle hairs that range in colour from gray, brown, and yellow to olive green, giving the coat a grizzled appearance. The belly and insides of the ears are white. The ears have a conspicuous black border. The nose is black, as are the large preorbital glands. The body is sturdy and the hindquarters are overdeveloped. The hooves look like vertical cylinders. The horns, found in males (and sometimes females in east African), are wide-set on the forehead and rise vertically as short spikes. Ridged at the base, they grow up to 15 cm / 6 inches long.

Other Common Names:

Size:

Range: Rocky areas of eastern and southern Africa; year around.

Natural History: The klipspringer is mainly active during the early morning and late afternoon, resting during the hottest part of the day among rocks or beneath overhangs. Their remarkable agility among the steep rocks of native kopjes can be attributed to a set of unique feet. The klipspringer stands on the very tips of its almost circular hooves, each with the diameter of about a dime. The strong back legs can project the klipspringer up a smooth wall, and they can jump onto a projection the size of a silver dollar with all four feet. Pairs have exclusive territories of 8-49 hectares in size, which they defend fiercely, and rarely leave. Both sexes are involved in marking with their preorbital glands. A sentinel, or watcher, is posted at all times within the group, and this animal is responsible for the safety of the group. When alarmed, the sentinel emits a shrill whistle to alert the other animals, at which they head for cover.

Hunting Characteristics: