Page 27 - Silver Lakes_Issue 7_2022

ESTATE NEWS

GAME COUNT

Here is a table indicating the game count seen in our reserve for the period of May 2022:

Game Type Count Diet

Springbuck 14 They feed on shrubs, young succulents, and grasses. Springbuck can live without drinking
water for years, and in extreme cases, they do not drink any water over the course of
their lives. They may accomplish this by selecting flowers, seeds and the leaves of shrubs
before dawn, when the food items are most succulent. They prefer short grass.

Impala 23 Impalas are herbivores (folivores). As grazers, these antelopes consume grass, while as
browsers, they feed on a wide variety of vegetation, including fruits, seedpods, shoots
as well as the leaves of trees and bushes. They prefer short grass.

Blesbuck 10 The Blesbuck is a grazing species and shows a preference for short grass. It particularly
favours fresh green grass appearing after a veld burn.

Nyala 30 Nyalas are herbivores. Their diet consists of foliage, fruits, flowers and twigs. During the
rainy season, they feed on the fresh grass. They prefer short grass.

Kudu 8 Lesser kudu are herbivorous animals. They browse on foliage from bushes and trees
(shoots, twigs) and herbs. These antelopes also eat flowers and fruits if available, and
take small proportions of grasses, usually in the wet season. They rarely eat grass,
though.

Grey duiker 10 Common, or grey, duikers are omnivores. They typically eat the leaves and shoots of
bushes, and fruits and flowers that feeding birds have dropped to the ground. They also
dig up tubers and roots with their hooves. Common duikers may also eat insects and
even lizards, frogs, rodents and nestling birds. Occasionally they may eat carrion.

Reedbuck 2 Bohor reedbuck are herbivorous (graminivorous) animals that feed on grasses and
tender reed shoots.

Waterbuck 7 Waterbuck are herbivores (graminivores). They feed on a variety of grasses and may
occasionally browse leaves from certain trees and bushes. They prefer long grass.

Steenbok 3 Steenbok are herbivorous animals. They feed on low-level vegetation and scrape up
roots and tubers. In some areas, they prefer forbs and woody plants. They will also take
fruits and only very rarely graze on grass. Steenbok don’t need water as they acquire
moisture from their food. They seldom eat grass.
Mountain reedbuck 2 Mountain reedbuck are herbivorous (graminivorous) animals that feed mainly on grass.
They are highly dependent on water and need a constant presence of fresh water.

Sable antelope 5 Sable antelope are herbivorous (folivorous, graminivorous) animals. They are specialised
browsing animals and feed on foliage, leaves, medium-length grass and herbs, especially
those growing on termite mounds. The leaves of trees provide 90% of their diet. They
also visit salt licks and have been known to chew bones for their mineral content.
Photos: Albert Roos from Apex Photographic Safaris

INTRAMUROS AUGUST 2022 | 25