The status, distribution and ecology of the Klipspringer in the Kruger National Park

Abstract

The status, distribution and ecology of klipspringer were studied in the Kruger National Park. For the status and distribution, the Kruger National Park south of the Olifants River was used as the study area. Data on the status and distribution were gathered from all the ranger sections in the study area with the use of a non-sampling method, namely a systematic search. The results showed that the klipspringer population in the Kruger National Park is secure with a patchy distribution consisting of 773 individuals in the study area and a sex ratio of one male per 1.1 female. The ecology of the klipspringer was studied in a specific study area on the Nwatindlopfu spruit between Skukuza and Tshokwane where five klipspringer individuals were radio collared. The aspects covered in the study on the ecology of klipspringer, were the activities associated with environmental and vegetation related variables as well as scent-marking. It was found that vegetation is the determining factor in the habitat selection of klipspringer in the Kruger National Park, in that it provides both shelter and food. The ideal klipspringer habitat can be described as an area that has limited access to other ungulates that can attract predators. The vegetation should consist of palatable plant species that could be utilized by klipspringer, and must also provide sufficient shelter against possible danger. Klipspringer scent marks were surveyed in a specific klipspringer range in the Kruger National Park with the use of a strip transect method. Both the male and the female klipspringer scent-mark their ranges. A pair of pre-orbital glands below the eyes produces the scent. The secretion produced is a sticky milky substance that is deposited on a suitable twig. The results showed that klipspringer in the Kruger National Park scent-¬mark more frequently on the boundaries of their ranges and also more on those sides where there is another resident klipspringer group.