Petite Kirk’s Dik-Dik
Among the dense brush and shrubs of East Africa, Southwest Africa, and isolated parts of South Africa lives a small petite Kirk’s Dik-Dik Antelope. They thrive in the leaves of bushes, where they can feast on buds, shoots, and latter the fruit of the vine or bush. They are quite fond of herbs, flowers and pods. Grasses of medium height are quite desirable, as they do not care for extremely tall grasslands of any kind. They prefer a dry terrain and must have a good supply of salt and some access to water.
The Dik-Dik is a spectacular animal with a coat of grey mixed with reddish brown, and a head and legs that are more of an orange or yellowish brown in color. They have large black eyes that are outlined in white and a rather long nose for such a small animal. This small antelope is a little more than 2 feet long and stands from 14-18 inches at the shoulder. This tiny antelope almost looks through you with those huge piercing eyes that give off an air of innocence. Their tails are almost as long as their bodies, while they weigh a meager 5 to 16 pounds. The adult male adds to his little frame a very petite rack of horns. This petite rack of horns is only around four inches long. What a petite beauty!
The female is fully ready to mate at six to eight months old. Males are usually closer to eight or nine months old. They generally mate for life and will occupy a range of around twelve to Seventy-five miles. Both the male and the female mark their territory and will defend it if necessary. When startled, the Dik-Dik leap through the grasses in a zigzag fashion making a sound that sounds as if they are saying Dik Dik. They leap and dash extremely fast as they run for cover. They generally live out their lives in the same territory.
The adult female usually carries her young for five to six months and wean their young around three to four months. They can give birth up to twice per year and usually have only one kid at a time. The average lifespan of this small petite antelope is around ten years in the wild. They leave the parents territory by seven or eight months.
The Dik-Dik are not endangered in any way, though they have many predators. Their primary predators are lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and caracals, Younger Dik-Diks are sometimes carried off by eagles, baboons and genets (a nocturnal cat like mammal.)
Among all the many reasons to visit South Africa, surely one will be to see these miniature antelopes in their native lands. They are adorable and smaller than most dogs. If you have never considered taking a trip to South Africa, perhaps this would be a great year to plan a South African adventure.
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https://exploretraveler.com/beautiful-dik-dik-south-africa/
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I had never heard of this beautiful creature!
Upvote from [email protected] Follow me here on Steemit. Go SuperiorCoin.
In my opinion, antelopes are the most elegant and graceful type of mammals, I've ever read about and seen in television as a kid before... Yep, I was filled with encylopedias and natGeos as a young kiddo. But at least I was well informed at such a young age before haha
I hope to see them soon in person with my bare eyes lelz
Thanks for sharing sir @exploretraveler
Kryptonia: @sydney_audry
Your welcome @churchgaldiaries.
Yes you can find such Antelopes in my countryside. Part of eastern region in Nigeria West Africa.
They are beautiful @praise-eu.
Super danke schön 😘😘😘😘😘💗 l
Thank you @paradise.ati
Very cool, its super
Thanks @klen.civil.
Nice article. Done voting. please upvote my latest post..thank you.
Thanks @caydenshan.
dlive-broadcast
your post all so good.i like it@exploretraveler
Thank you @naeem6.
It's unbelievable that they are not endangered
It is amazing @ritalaura.
dik dik is such an unfortunate name
It's a different language @tbarrett.
Was just pulling your leg mate :p
Dik dik funny
They are cute animals @taufi.
yeah...
Right..
Dik-dik is the name for any of four species of small antelope in the genus Madoqua that live in the bushlands of eastern and southern Africa.
i think that many tourists will be wanted to see these miniature antelopes in their native lands.
good valuable post...
thanks
@upvoted #resteem
They really are adorable @lafzaia.
Oh! It's very cute!!! Looks like a harmless puppy! Hahaha! Thank you for sharing! 😊
Kryptonia ID is @gingbabida.
Your welcome @gingbabida.
Such an innocent image of the dik dik. Thanks for sharing about it!
Glad you enjoyed @mgadin.
Amazing and my Kryptonia account is @ianstevenson
Thanks @ianstevenson.
Nice article @duquejunalyn
Thanks @duquejunalyn.
So cute... resteemed
Thanks @kamimorrow.
Oh how cute! Looks like Bambi of Disney. 😍
Hahaha, Yes, avon.grace, they almost could be bambi.
The eyes is so charming :) Thank you for sharing :)
Your welcome @marylizacaindoy.
Great post. keep it up. Here is my kryptonia ID. @remieltbertes.
Thanks @remieltbertes.
Nunca habia visto un animalito como ese!
-Kryptonia @omontoya46
Estan bonitos @javfer46.
Cute one :)
Thanks @libsyas.
Got too curious and had to come and see what is dik-dik. Cute little fellow!
If they mate early and give birth twice a year then I believe their population is highly sustainable? Beautiful!
Greetings from Kryptonia/rockofallages
Upvoted from kryptonia @dopinthezone
Yes you can also find this beautiful animals here in Nigeria.....
Kryptonia @bitcoinpaul
What an amazing face, the Dik Dik has!
I have Upvoted your task from kryptonia @stevehuggett :)
Thank you for sharing this wonderful post, how I wish I can see real antelopes. Upvoted from: Kryptonia @reatimtim
Looks so cute! Can they become pet?!?! Read, upvotef, commented and resteemed by rubelynmacion of krypto
Amazing post.. Thank you for sharing sir.. 🙂
Krytonia @jhen
Great post. Nice article. Dik dik is cute. Hehe
Upvoted kryptonia @shella
it is so cute. wow!
kryptonia ID bigmike420
She looks like Bambi in the cartoons.
Kryptonia:tpkidkai
One of the duiker family, we have small buck living close and within urban areas, not quite as small as the dik dik (not very much bigger either).
Blue duiker, steenbok, oribi are all smaller antelope in our region, yes we are spoiled seeing them in the wild.
Their speed is amazing, more often than not the larger predators will give them a miss (unless really hungry), they take flight at the drop of a pin, I have enjoyed reading your article @exploretraveler
#KRYPTONIA: @joanstewart1