Baby blesbok finds its feet
NORSCOT - Koppies and Kingfisher Nature Reserve has welcomed the addition of a new member to the family of five Blesbok currently residing on its grounds.
Blesbok or Blesbuck is a type of antelope indigenous to South Africa. The reserve, which is open to the public every second and last Sunday of each month, intended opening during December however, due to the addition of the new member of the family, they have decided to remain closed.
Mary Borkett, the president of the reserve said the reason for the reserve closing its gates temporarily was so that the new-born buck could be integrated into its new environment. Another factor in this decision is that although the rest of the herd is used to visitors, both mother and baby might be a little skittish as they adapt and the baby buck’s legs are still not strong enough.
Borkett said the timing couldn’t be more ideal as businesses and schools come to a close and most people leave for their holiday destinations. The reserve will open January next year as normal.
Then Stella, the mother of the new-born, was nursed and bottle-fed by a member of the public. She is the only buck with a name, which is an ode to the lady who first nursed her. Borkett said the rest of the blesbok are all referred to as bokke. The sex of the baby buck has still not yet been determined by the custodians of the reserve as the only way to determine whether it is male or female is to see it urinate. Then based on which hole it uses to urinate, the sex is then confirmed.
The reserve is also home to several other animals including 20 duiker and one female klipspringer, An attempt to buy the klipspringer a male companion proved too expensive to the reserve as they sell in the region of R15 000 to R20 000. An amount too costly for the reserve which is predominantly funded through public donations. Borkett however said she is appealing to members of the public who can assist in any way.
