Quick answer
Key facts about springbok — size, diet, habitat, and conservation in one place.
Pronking display
Springbok perform multiple stiff-legged bounds called pronking, lifting a fan of white hair along the back. The display may signal fitness to predators, alert the herd, or occur during excitement — a signature behaviour of the species.
Arid adaptation
Springbok can survive with limited free water by selecting moisture-rich plants and concentrating urine. They remain abundant on Karoo farms and Kalahari reserves where other antelope struggle.
Herds and rut
Mixed herds merge during dry seasons and split when rams establish territories in the rut. Lambs are born after a six-month gestation, often hiding in vegetation before joining nursery groups.
Cultural and sporting icon
Listed Least Concern, springbok appear on South African rugby jerseys and coins. Game ranching and protected areas maintain large populations across Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa.