Quick stats of the Blesbok

• Diet: - Herbivore
• Shoulder Height: - 0.95m
• Weight: - Male - 70 kg
• Weight: - Female - 60 kg
• Lifespan - 12 years

Description

Although the blesbok looks similar to the bontebok, identification is not a problem as the blesbok is found in open grassland near shade, while the bontebok is found in open fynbos.

Blesbok graze in the morning and late afternoon when it is cool, avoiding the heat of the day when they rest.

Blesbok live in herds consisting of females and young, while males live alone and are highly territorial. They also have the habit of walking in single file.

In the mating season, males pick out females from herds which pass through their territories and they will often fight over a mate. The female remains in the herd and after a gestation period of 8 months, she gives birth to a single calf.

 

Other Names for the Blesbok

• No other Names

Distribution

Distribution map of the Blesbok

Taxonomy of the Blesbok

• Order - Artiodactyla
• Family - Bovidae
• Sub Family - Alcelaphinae
• Genus - Damaliscus
• Species - D. pygargus
• Sub Species - D. p. phillipsi