Animal Fact Sheets

Diet
In the wild: Springboks are both browsers and grazers. They feed on young, tender grasses or low shrubs, and other succulents. Springboks drink water when available, but during times of drought seek out flowers, which have a greater capacity for holding water than grasses.

At the zoo: Alfalfa, grain, carrots as treats and browse when available.

Reproduction
Females reach sexual maturity at approximately 1 year of age. Males take twice as long to mature, reaching reproductive age at 2 years. Springboks live in herds that vary in composition throughout the breeding season. During mating time, males maintain a territorial group of females, which they resolutely protect. Separate bachelor herds of up to 50 young, old, and those males losing out to dominant males also occur during the mating season. A maternity group composed of females, their young and a few dominant males occur during birthing time.

Due to the variation in yearly dry seasons in the arid regions of the springboks' range, springboks are flexible in their breeding seasons. They normally mate during the early dry season, and give birth about six months later during the beginning of the rainy season. A single offspring is usually born. Females reproduce approximately every two years. Young are weaned six months to a year after birth.

Powerful Jumpers, Hearty Trekkers
The name springbok comes from the animal's habit of “pronking,” a specialized type of gazelle-jumping behavior. When pronking, a springbok can leap up to 13 feet (4 m) in the air, with its body curved and legs stiff, close together and pointing downwards. As it returns to the ground, it effortlessly leaps upward again. Pronking occurs during play, and probably serves to notify potential predators like lions or cheetahs that they have been detected and should give up any thoughts of attack.

In times of extended drought, springboks take part in a massive migration known as “trekbokken” or “treks.” In the past, herds of over 1 million springbok would move in mass outside their normal range in search of food and water. Over the years, however, herds have been greatly reduced by hunting for their meat and because of the damage they cause to crop lands during their trek. Today in the Republic of South Africa, treks are an event of the past, because springboks are primarily confined to private farms, parks and game reserves. In remote areas of Angola and Botswana, however, groups of up to 1,500 individuals can occasionally be seen making the trekbokken.

Teeth and Hair Make the Difference!
At first glance a springbok and a gazelle may appear one and the same. A closer inspection, however, reveals ways that they can be differentiated. Springbok have five pairs of molars for grinding in their lower jaw, while gazelle have six pairs of molars. A more easily seen external difference becomes evident when a springbok becomes excited or frightened. Springbok have a pocket-like flap of skin lined with white hair that extends from the middle of their back to their rump. When excited or frightened, this flap turns inside out, revealing a highly visible crest of erect white hairs along a springbok’s back. This display acts as a warning system to other springboks in the herd.

Location at the Zoo
Springboks are no longer exhibited at Woodland Park Zoo. However, Grant's gazelles are now part o four African Savanna exhibit. Other mammals that may come into view are zebra, patas monkey, hippopotamus and reticulated giraffe. A variety of birds can also be observed at the African Savanna, including white-faced whistling ducks and Egyptian geese.

Conservation Connection
In 1896, approximately 500,000 springbok were seen in one herd. Today, only 250,000 are left in all of Africa. Farmers extensively hunted springbok due to the crop damage they caused during their treks in search of food and water. Springbok were also a main food source for the growing population of South Africa. Fencing of rangeland caused a steep decline.

In an effort to save the species, springbok have been increasingly confined to game reserves and private farms. The springbok is the sporting emblem of the Republic of South Africa, which has led to limited protection of the species in that country. Also, springbok are now valued because they attract tourists to game reserves and private game farms.

How You Can Help!
The effort to save endangered species requires cooperation and support at the international, national, regional and individual levels. You can help in this cause. Join and become active in Woodland Park Zoo and other conservation organizations of your choice. Please do not buy products made from wild animal parts.

Contact your elected representatives and express your views about conservation of endangered species and wild habitats. Contact Woodland Park Zoo at webkeeper@zoo.org to find out ways you can support conservation programs at the zoo. Learn other ways you can help conserve wildlife and the habitats they require for survival by visiting our How You Can Help page.

Sources and Suggested Reading
Macdonald, David, ed. 1993. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. Facts on File, Inc., New York, NY. 895 p.Nowak, Ronald M., ed. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World. 5th Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London. 1,629 p.