As you’ve enjoyed our products or perused our website, you may have found yourself thinking, “What is that animal in the logo?”
Well, to answer your question, it’s a springbok, considered to be the most iconic animal associated with South Africa.
Your mind might then wonder “Well, what makes it so iconic?” Well, wonder no more! This week, we’ll be delving into everything you need to know about the springbok, from its life on the savanna to its importance in South African culture.
What makes a Springbok a Springbok?
The springbok is most recognized by the curved horns on their heads, a feature shared between both male and female springbok. These horns are made of keratin, the same substance found in our fingernails and hair and are part of the springbok for their entire lifetimes. If a springbok’s horns are damaged or broken, they will remain broken forever.
Another unique and distinctive feature of the springbok is the flap of skin across its back that hides a pouch full of hair, which stands on end when the springbok senses danger. This flap is what gives the springbok its scientific name, Antidorcas Marsupialis. If you were to directly translate the Latin, it would literally mean “Not a Gazelle with a Pocket.”
(Despite the term Marsupialis, the springbok is not related to the pouch-having marsupials found mostly in Australia and the Americas, though their names do come from the same Latin term.)
Actually, from a glance, one might assume that the springbok is related to deer based on its general shape as well as the horns on its head. However, springboks are actually part of the bovine family, sharing much more in common with cows and sheep. In fact, male springboks are known as Rams and female springbok are known as ewes, just like with sheep! The springbok’s cousins, such as the gazelle, the kudu, and other antelope species, are also considered members of the bovine family.
High Jumps and Higher Speeds
The name springbok, much like the word Biltong, is a combination of two words in the Afrikaans language: Spring (meaning Jump in Afrikaans) and Bok (meaning Antelope). The translated name of “Jumping Antelope” is in direct reference to the springbok’s incredible ability to leap 11 feet into the air! This is especially impressive considering that the average Springbok is as tall as a larger dog breed, such as a Mastiff or a St. Bernard, and can weight up to 100 pounds!
This incredible jumping behavior, called “pronking” (not “plonking”), is achieved through a series of stiff-legged leaps, an arched back, and the sudden display of its dorsal flap. While some believe pronking is simply a way to show off, the more accepted theories are that it serves as a warning signal to the herd or a distraction technique to confuse predators.
But jumping isn’t their only athletic feat. Springboks are actually among the fastest land animals, capable of reaching speeds up to 55 miles per hour while escaping predators on the savannas and deserts they call home.
As herbivores, springboks graze on grass during the wet seasons and flowers and shrubs during dry periods. Remarkably, they can extract enough moisture from their food that many live their entire lives without drinking from rivers or streams, though it’s still common to see them gathered at watering holes.
An Important Symbol
Springbok have long had meaning and reverence to the people of South Africa. The Indigenous tribes of South Africa, like the Khoikhoi people, lived alongside the springbok as they wandered through the land. Though the Khoikhoi did use springbok as a resource to survive, they also saw great beauty in the animal, giving springbok spiritual qualities and honoring the creature in religious ceremonies.
As Dutch and British settlers arrived in the continent, they saw the springbok as new game to hunt, treasuring the springbok’s meat, leather, and horns for food, clothing, and trade purposes. It didn’t take long for the Springbok to start heading, like many other animals in the region, towards extinction, as their population numbers began to dip due to overhunting.
Thankfully, the reverence for these magnificent animals led to laws protecting their populations, leading to the creation of many Springbok Sanctuaries. Today, it is estimated that a healthy 2.5 million springbok roam the African continent, and they are no longer considered at risk for extinction.
The Springbok, as South Africa’s national animal, continues to be a popular and powerful symbol of national pride and unity. The agility, strength, and perseverance of springboks inspire South Africans across the world and is recognized as the emblem of the country’s internationally renowned Rugby team.
The Springbok will always have a special place in the heart of South Africans around the globe. At Baya Biltong, we choose to honor our roots and our origins with the symbol of the springbok. It serves as a proud emblem of the values, heritage, and dedication that shape everything we do.