Blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus) lives in grasslands across Southern Africa. It feeds on grass and leaves. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Blesbok
- All modern bontebok descend from a single herd of 17 individuals rescued in 1931; the species has rebounded to an estimated 2,500-3,000 animals today. Those 17 were corralled and moved to the newly created Bontebok National Park, a sanctuary built specifically to protect them. By the time the park was relocated in 1961 the population had risen to 61, showing rapid growth under protection.
- Blesbok herds never grow larger than about 70 members, whether they are all-male, all-female or mixed groups. These groups roam the Highveld, a grassland region where the animals feed mainly on short grasses and are active during daylight hours but seek shade and rest during the hottest part of the day.
- Bontebok are not good jumpers, but they are very good at crawling under things, using their low profile to slip beneath obstacles when threatened. Mature males establish territories and will face down rival males in displays, sometimes escalating to brief fights. Their activity pattern is diurnal, yet they seek shade and rest during the hottest part of the day, conserving energy for these territorial bouts.
- The blesbok subspecies inhabits South Africa's Highveld, a grassland where it primarily grazes on short grasses, contrasting with the coastal fynbos home of the bontebok. Herds on the Highveld can be all-male, all-female or mixed, but never exceed about 70 individuals. Like their relatives, blesbok are active by day and retreat to shade during the peak heat.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSouthern Africa
HabitatGrasslands
DietGrass and leaves
About the Blesbok
In the sun-drenched grasslands of southern Africa, the blesbok roams with an effortless elegance, its tawny coat glistening like burnished copper as it moves with a quiet confidence, its large, dark eyes ever-vigilant for the presence of predators. With each step, its slender legs seem to barely touch the earth, as if it is floating across the landscape, its very presence a testament to the enduring resilience of life in this unforgiving yet beautiful world. As it grazes, the blesbok's gentle lowing carries on the breeze, a soothing melody that underscores its tranquil existence.
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