Klipspringers, with their petite frames and nimble agility thanks to their specially adapted truncated hooves, are synonymous with rocky landscapes. Here at Londolozi, they are typically found perched upon boulder-strewn rocky outcrops known as koppies that characterize the northern reaches of the reserve. So, imagine our surprise when we recently spotted a Klipspringer, leaping and bounding through the long grass on the southern section of the reserve, far from its natural habitat. This unexpected sight sparked lively discussions among our ever-competitive ranging team – was it truly a Klipspringer?
Although I wasn’t able to capture a clear picture of the klipspringer, I did manage to snap a photo of it bounding out of sight. Just as well I had my camera ready, for we were taken by surprise once again when the Xinkhova Female Leopard suddenly appeared, hot on the trail of the seemingly lost klipspringer.
The Xinkhova Female didn’t hesitate to take on the opportunity that presented itself.
A stunning young female with a very similar spot pattern to her mother, the Nkoveni Female. Litter still completely intact March 2022.
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We eagerly attempted to catch up with the Xinkhova Female as she pursued the klipspringer, but neither we nor the leopard could locate the elusive creature as it swiftly navigated through unfamiliar terrain.
A klipspringer standing tall on top of a prominent boulder. This is where one would usually expect to find a klipspringer, but nature is always full of surprises. This statue-like posture not only deters predators but also signals territorial occupancy to any potential competition.
As perplexing as it may seem, this was not the first recorded instance of a klipspringer being seen outside of its usual rocky habitat. There are several possible explanations for this behaviour. While rocky outcrops are the preferred habitat for klipspringers, offering refuge from predators and a variety of food sources, including succulents, leaves, forbs, herbs, berries, and new shoots, it’s not uncommon for them to forage outside their sanctuaries when resources are scarce. However, given that we’re currently in the middle of the rainy season, a food shortage is unlikely to be the cause of this particular Klipspringer’s venture into unfamiliar territory.
As the traverse to find a mate is extremely dangerous, once they find a mate Klipspringers will stay together for life sharing a permanent territory.
Mating pairs of klipspringers typically share a permanent territory for life, but as the population grows, territorial disputes among young males can lead them to embark on dangerous traverses in search of new territories, and rocky outcrops are finite in this area this may lead the males to venture much further afield. We identified this particular klipspringer as a male, as only males have horns, making exploration of new territories the more likely scenario in this case.
While we may never fully unravel the mysteries behind this klipspringer’s unexpected journey, its wanderings serve as a reminder of the complex dynamics at play in the wilderness. Seeing the Xinkhova Female chase after the klipspringer is an even further reminder that nature is full of surprises and that no opportunity should go unmissed.
Kelsey Clark
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