With winter in full swing, the bush is thinning out around this time. Being my favourite time of year for multiple reasons, I am savouring every moment. One thing I have noticed over the last few weeks and started discussing with fellow guides and trackers is the perceived increase of steenboks around the reserve. Often seen only for a few seconds or as a fleeting glimpse before they dart off into the distance, the tiny steenbok will freeze at any sign of danger. Holding dead still till the last second, they then disappear in a cloud of dust, far quicker than you can imagine.
Recently on a drive, we came across a very inquisitive steenbok who did not follow the norm I have just laid out. Rather it gave us quite the show, which allowed us to discuss some of the more intricate and interesting behavioural traits. Being a fairly unique trait, naturally, the topic of burying their dung came up. If you were unaware of this, yes the steenbok buries its dung but before we discuss that let us take a closer look at steenbok.
A few quick facts:
These small and shy creatures weigh only 900 grams at birth and are capable of standing up on their own within five minutes, making them incredibly vulnerable to predators. For the first three months of their lives, they remain hidden in thick vegetation while their mothers go out to feed and only return to nurse and groom the lamb. Typically solitary animals, except during mating or a female accompanied by her lamb, Steenbok reside in territories as small as 0.03 square kilometres. Although males and females have abutting territories, they seldom overlap and hence seeing two individuals together is very rare.
Steenbok are highly capable diggers and will unearth bulbs and rhizomes to eat. These ingenious antelope will even utilise scraps left behind from porcupines once they have excavated holes to reach the roots they are after. Because of the high moisture content in the food they consume, steenboks do not need to drink water often and rather obtain it from their diet.
Why do they bury their dung?
Often touted as a method of hiding their scent, steenboks will use latrine sites to bury their faeces (taking great care to do so, where they scrape a hole in the ground, urinate and defecate in it then cover it with soil). Although this doesn’t sit quite right with me, as in the same breath they will mark their territories using the preorbital glands on their faces as well as glands between their hooves.
A pair of Steenbok. The smallest antelope on Londolozi, these territorial little animals are often to be seen feeding together, but are notoriously shy, dashing away when they realise they have been seen.
I think a more likely reason for this bizarre behaviour is that in burying their dung, they actually preserve the scent by preventing the dung from drying out. In fact, this may enhance the odour, and act as both a territorial mark and allow males and females in abutting territories to communicate. An important point to remember here is that the world of odour and at large the sense of smell in pretty much all animals is arguably the least understood form of communication. As humans, we fall horribly short in this regard.
Nice job.
They are so precious to see
That is a very interesting premise. Domestic cats cover their urine and feces to hide it from predators. I have witnessed different predators showing up whenever it was exposed. But with your arguments for the Steenbok it makes sense and is quite intriguing! Great post!
Such lovely little animals! They remind me of dik diks, that are subjects of several behavioural research. Thank you for writing about them, it is difficult to imagine them with so many predators but they surely hide well.
Very cool Keagan, and great photos!
Interesting aspect of the steenboks’ behavior.
Indeed, humans do not understand that much about smell. Sometimes I wonder what this world of smells is like for animals.
Wow Keagan, you have taught us a new lesson with this incredible information of the steenbok burying their
dung. As you say, humans will fall short of understanding this process. Yes maybe they are preserving the scent for marking their territory in a different way. They are such beautiful little antelope and quite tiny in stature.
Thanks Keagan for the information on the steenbok. They are certainly marvelous creatures.
Another interesting and informative blog written by you Keagan, so thank you. I have only had a clear view once of a Steenbok and it occurred this year – fortunately it was one of those rare moments when it stood in one place for a minute. The fact I found the most interesting was that they bury their urine and dung. Considering their hoof sizes, I can’t imagine the hole is very deep so the smell would be quite apparent. If they’re trying to keep under the radar, I can’t see it working.
I learned something new today. Thank you! They are very cute little antelopes.