WILDLIFE SOUTH AFRICA |
| GEMSBOK |
Latin Name: Oryx gazella Afrikaans: Gemsbok |
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Distribution in South
Africa: |
Gemsbok are mainly found towards the western and northwestern parts of South Africa. They occur in the Western Cape, North West and especially in the Northern Cape and the Kalahari region. In the present day, due to commercial game farming and through breeding and selling, they occur widely on game farms throughout South Africa except in the eastern parts of South Africa. There are no Gemsbok in the Kruger National Park, but they can be seen in a number of other parks especially in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. |
Habitat: |
Gemsbok prefer dry areas and open savannah grassland. |
| Habits: |
They are gregarious and occur in medium to large breeding herds (mixed bulls, cows and calves), herds consisting of bulls only (bachelor herds) as well as territorial bulls. |
Day or night: |
Mainly active by day |
Difference between bull and cow: |
Both Bulls and cows have horns, the bulls have horns that are more symmetrical and thicker towards the base and the cows often have longer horns, although thinner and often asymmetrical. Bulls are heavier and of stockier build than cows. |
Mass: |
Male (Bull): 240 Kilograms Female (Cow): 210 Kilograms |
| Breeding: |
Gemsbok reach sexual maturity after about two years. Usually one calf is born after which calf is hidden away (in tall grass or shrubs) from the herd for up to 6 weeks. The cow visits often to let the calf suckle. After the period of about six weeks the calf is introduced to the herd. |
Gestation period: |
264 Days |
Lifespan: |
15 to 19 years |
| Diet / Food and water: |
Mainly grazers (grass eaters) but also pods of especially the Camel thorn (Acacia erioloba), small shrubs and bushes. They also dig up roots and bulbs to eat, from which they get moisture and thus do not need water often. Gemsbok are not dependant on water. |
| Enemies: |
Lion, Leopard, Hyena, Humans. |