The national animal of South Africa is the springbok. This is a species of antelope found mostly in south and southwest Africa, and they are the only member of their genus. They have been an important national symbol in South Africa for many decades even through rife political turmoil the country has faced.
The springbok is, like many other species of antelope in Africa, beautiful and instantly recognizable.
They embody many important aspects of South African culture and have been seen as emblematic of the country’s values and natural beauty for many years.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of South Africa?
The national animal of South Africa is the springbok.
This is a species of antelope which is found mostly in southern Africa.
They were first formally described by modern naturalism in 1780, when German naturalist Aberhard August von Zimmerman examined a specimen.
The common name, “springbok,” was first recorded in 1775, coming from the Afrikaans simply meaning “jump” and “antelope”.
Their scientific name, Antidorcas maruspialis, indicates primarily simply that they are not a gazelle but an antelope—similar but distinct groups of animals.
There are today three recognized subspecies.
They are a slender and tall antelope species with very long legs, reaching around 34 inches at the shoulder and weighing anywhere from 60 to 93 pounds.
They have a pair of black, long, curving horns which are present in both sexes, usually around 14 to 20 inches long.
They have a striking white face, with a dark stripe running from the eyes to the mouth.
Their coat is brown in the same shade as many species of antelope, marked with a darker, red-brown stripe.
They are mostly active at dawn and dusk and form what are known as harems.
This means they live in mixed-sex herds usually one or two males and a group of females.
They are well known for displaying the behavior known as pronking.
The springbok will jump into the air many times in a row, as high as almost seven feet off the ground in a stiff-legged posture.
It is not entirely known why they do this, though many simply believe it is done for sheer joy.
This, then, is where they get their common name, though this behavior is by no means exclusive to the Springbok.
It is easy to see, then, why such an animal might make a considerable impression on the people who see it—but why is it the national animal of South Africa?
Why is the springbok the national animal of South Africa?
The springbok is the national animal of South Africa for a variety of reasons.
On the one hand, they are seen as embodiments of many important South African values.
They embody freedom, grace, a liberated spirit and the ability to live as one pleases.
Given that they get their name from their pronking, it should not be a surprise that this is where a great deal of their cultural and symbolic significance should come from.
They jump for sheer joy in a way that human beings should certainly wish to emulate.
On the other hand, they are also seen as more literal embodiments of South African natural beauty.
They are the perfect spirit of the South African wilderness, graceful in the dry, arid shrubland and able to go even many years without drinking water.
They are the spirit of the sometimes harsh South African wilds.
But for the most part, you may get a different perspective on this issue depending on whom you ask; South Africa is a cultural melting pot and so the springbok may hold significance to all different groups for a variety of reasons.
What do springbok eat?
Springbok are natural grazers and browsers, meaning that they can eat a fairly wide range of plant matter.
They feed mostly on shrubs and succulents, though it will depend on what is seasonally available.
They will breed in the wet season when food is most readily available, though as mentioned they can in some cases even go years without drinking any water, getting all the moisture they need from the food they eat.
Vegetation, then, of various kinds is their main source of food, and specifically, it is most commonly succulent vegetation with high water content.
Where do springbok live?
Springbok inhabit the dry areas of southern and southwestern Africa.
They can be found in open grassland, shrubland, and even semi-arid deserts where they can get access to enough plant matter to sustain themselves.
They are very well adapted to extremely dry environments and so they are spread over a fairly wide range and are successful enough that even in the present state of things they remain a species of least concern.
They are, though, popular game animals and valued for their meat and skin, so there are populations that are also preserved in specific national parks and game hunting preserves.
So, again, the springbok is simply one of the most important animals in South Africa and in this wider region of the world.
They are iconic visually and physically as well as symbolically.
They have been seen to reflect the culture and natural beauty of South Africa for a very long time and no doubt will continue to be for a very long time to come.
Few animals could hope to take their place as South Africa’s national animal.