All information about the blesbok

The blesbok

The blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) belongs to the large family of cave horned animals (Bovidae). This large family consists of eight subfamilies including the family of cow antelopes (Alcelaphinae). This family includes the blesbok. The cow antelope family in turn can be divided into four genera with different species:

Subfamily: Alcelaphinae

• Alcelaphus

  • Bustard (Alcelaphus buselaphus)

• Beatragus

  • Hirola (Beatragus hunteri)

• Connochaetes

  • White-tailed wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou)

  • Blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)

• Damaliscus

  • Topi (Damaliscus lunatus)

  • Blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus)

The blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus) has two subspecies, namely the blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) and the piedbok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus). Safaripark Beekse Bergen is home to the blesbok.

What does a blesbok look like?

The blesbok can be recognised by the large, white spot on the front of its head. This is also called a blaze. In the young, this spot is still black in colour. They have a red-brown coat with a white belly, white lower legs and white buttocks. Males are dark in colour and larger than females. Both females and males have two ringed horns on their heads. These horns grow to be about 35 to 40 centimetres long.

How much does a blesbok weigh?

Males are larger than females and weigh between 65 and eighty kilos. Females weigh between 55 and seventy kilos.

What is the habitat of a blesbok?

The blesbok is found in open grasslands in southern Africa. Two subspecies of the blesbok are known, called pied buck and blesbok. The pied buck is found mainly in the coastal areas of South Africa and the blesbok is found mainly in eastern and central South Africa.

Does a blesbok live in a herd?

Blesboks are herd animals. Females with their young form groups of about 25 animals and males live in groups of up to 30 animals together. From these groups with males, dominant males emerge and own their own territory. A herd of females can often be found in this territory of about 300 m2. It sometimes happens in winter that groups of up to 650 animals are formed! Blesboks used to migrate a lot through different areas. Nowadays, they only migrate through an area of about 100 km2.

How does a blesbok reproduce?

The dominant male tries to mate with all the females in the herd. The female's gestation period is about eight months and young are born from August to mid-December. One young is born per litter and this young can stand up and walk carefully after about 15 minutes.

What does a blesbok eat?

The blesbok is a true grazer and eats a variety of grasses and herbs. The blesbok mainly eats long grasses. They can bite these down to very short. They are able to make a very good selection between different plant parts. They spend their time grazing in the morning. In the afternoon and the rest of the day, the animals rest.

Ranger Rick takes you to see the blesbok at Safaripark Beekse Bergen in this Safari Report.

Is the blesbok threatened?

Blesboks used to be hunted a lot and in the 19th^e century they were even close to extinction! Measures were taken, and the blesboks were put in reserves and private areas. Here the animals could be protected. So few to no blesboks actually live in the wild anymore. Because of this protection, the population has grown tremendously again over the years, and the blesbok has been given "safe" status on the IUCN Red List.

Species Conservation

The role of zoos is to preserve and protect of animal species. European parks work closely with each other to achieve this goal and do so with an management program (EEP). The blesbok is also part of this. In this way, a healthy reserve population is maintained. You can find out more about species conservation and our role here here.

Conservation

Fortunately, the status of the blesbok is safe. But unfortunately, many of the species you see in our park are endangered and struggling in their native habitats. Did you know that worldwide more than 4,000 animal species threatened with extinction are endangered? Together we can help them, with big, or small steps. Want to know how? Then click here.

How old does a blesbok get?

The blesbok lives to be about seventeen years old. Because blesbok hunting is now banned and the animals live in protected areas, the animals are more likely to survive in the wild.

What kind of sound does a blesbok make?

As an alarm response, the blesbok can make a kind of growling and snorting sound. Furthermore, this animal communicates mainly through scent signals such as urine and dung markings. The blesbok has scent glands under its eyes and under its paws that allow them to recognize each other by scents.