Bontebok

© Nigel J Dennis

Igama

Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus)

Ukubukeka

I-Bontebok yisilwane esincane esinsundu ngebala, sinebala elibanzi elikhanyayo ebusweni. Iqolo ne sisu zimhlophe, umsila wona umpisholo namhlophe. Bobubili lobulili balezilwane bunamaphondo, kodwa awe nqama makhulu kunawe mvukazi.

Ukudla

Lesilwane sithanda indawo enotshani olufushane, futhi ene fynbos.

Ukuzala

Lesilwane sizala ngenkathi ezithize onyakeni. Imvukazi iqala ukuya ocansini mangabe isinemnyaka emibili. Isikhathi soncansi singo Januwari na ngo Mashi. Zizala ichwane elilodwa ngo Septemba nango Okthoba. Lesilwane sikhulelwa izinsuku ezingama 238 – 254.

Ukuziphatha

Lesilwane sibonakala entambama. Inqama nganye inensimu yayo, ngesikhathi soncansi, inakekela umhlambi wezi mvukazi ezimbili ukuyosho kwisishagalombili namathole azo. Izinqama ezingekalungeli ukubana mathole zinomhlambi wazo wodwa.

Zitholakala kuphi

I-Bontebok yayizingelwa kakhulu ngamakholoni. Ngonyaka ka1830, kwasekusele angama 22. Namuhla lesilwane sivikelwa yi Bontebok National Park, eyamenyezelwa ngonyaka ka 1931. Ngo nyaka ka 1992, lelinani lanyuka laba yizinkulungwane ezimbili. Ngonyaka ka 1961 eyesibili indawo yamenyezelwa eduze kwase Swellendam, namuhla lendawo inama Bontebok angama 200 -300. Ngokomlando i-Bontebok yayitholakala eningizumu-ntshonalanga, lapho zasuka zaya kwezinye izindawo ekungajwayelekile ukuthi zitholakale kuzo.

Amanothi asenkambini

Leligama lithi i-Bontebok lisuka kwi siDutch abafika kulelizwe ngonyaka ka1600. Lesilwane yisizalwane se Blesbok, ososayensi bayazihlanganisa lezilwane kepha sekuze kubenzima ukuchaza ukuthi yisiphi engu ngqo.