This bontebok is one of three you will find in the Game Preserve at Fossil Rim.

Animal of the Month: Welcome the Bontebok
New Species on Exhibit at Fossil Rim

These two animal species present quite a quandary to taxonomists. They used to be considered subspecies of Damaliscus dorcas and their current classification has not yet ‘caught on’ with everyone The Bontebok have historically been reduced to just 17 individuals but have been introduced to game farms and preserves and their population has now grown to well over a thousand.

Their color is a reddish brown with a white ‘blaze’ on their faces, composed of a narrower patch on the forehead and a longer, wider section down the nose. On the Bontebok these sections are continuous but on the Blesbok there is usually a small, dark band between them. Bellies and the inside of the legs are white. The rump of the Blesbok is mostly the same color as its back, the Bontebok have a white patch that surrounds the tail.

The gestation period is around 8 months resulting in the birth of a single offspring. The babies are weaned at about four months and reach sexual maturity at two and a half years. They can live as long as 17 years.

On your next trip through Fossil Rim be sure and look for these new additions and welcome them to their new home.