Gemsbok

Oryx, Namibia’s national animal

Oryx are symbolic of Namibia´s arid landscapes and these antelopes survive in the Namib Desert and the Kalahari Desert. As these deserts flank Namibia in the west and the east, two oryx, also known as gemsbok, flank Namibia´s national flag on the Namibian coat of arms. Oryx are Namibia’s national animals but they are classified by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism as huntable game.

Cows and bulls have long, straight and sharp horns. Those of females are thinner and longer while those of males are thicker and shorter. What makes these animals unique is not the fact that they can survive for a long time without water, but their amazing cooling system. Living in a harsh environment with high temperatures, oryx are able to raise their body temperature from a normal 36 °C to a staggering 45 °C without causing irreparable damage, by using evaporative cooling by nasal panting to cool the blood before it reaches the brain. They are also able to concentrate their urine to prevent losing too much valuable moisture.

Farmers see oryx as lawnmowers because they can concentrate in big numbers on an area after good rains and feed on grass to such an extent that it appears to have been neatly mowed. But in more arid areas or during drought conditions these antelopes feed on melons like tsama melons, on fruit of the !Nara, succulents and dig up roots to gain nutrition and moisture.

When water is available, they will drink regularly.

Although oryx are only slightly smaller and lighter than kudus, their heart-shaped hooves are much larger, an adaptation to move more easily in soft sand. Oryx move around in dunes, sandy grass plains, and are found in most national parks, on farms and communal areas in Namibia except for the central northern and north-eastern regions. The Khaudum National Park is quite unique, having oryx moving from open grassland into areas with tall trees, an unusual sight. They can move in herds of up to 300 individuals, but normally are in small herds of different age and sex of around 15 animals.

Their biggest enemy are lions, although oryx know how to use their long, sharp horns effectively. When fighting, stab wounds are common; on the other hand, they are very careful when using their horns to scratch themselves. Calves are taken by leopards, wild dogs, hyenas and cheetah.

Oryx are the antelopes in Namibia with the most individuals that display deformed horns. Experts think the abnormal growth of a horn is linked to an injury received when the oryx are young. In some cases this can be very painful and even fatal, for example when a horn curls and grows into the head of an individual. It is not uncommon to see oryx with half a horn or an entire horn complete broken off.

Calves do not have the fawn-grey colour with black and white markings that are characteristic of adults, but are fawn or reddish-brown. Some years ago, nature conservation officials in the Namib-Naukluft National Park got reports from tourists that dogs, thought to be ridgebacks, were chasing oryx. The officials investigated the reports and concluded that the tourists mistook oryx calves for dogs, since they never found a single dog in the reported area.

In 2011 and for some time afterwards, there was a hype to buy “golden” oryx. These animals had golden-brown markings on their body rather than the usual black markings. Eventually game farmers and trophy hunters lost interest and farmers getting involved in the hype later lost a lot of money.

For decades, oryx have had the freedom of Oranjemund, a mining town in the south-west corner of Namibia. Once a town for the diamond mine’s employees only, strict rules were applied in town. One of them protected the oryx which lived around the town, close to the Orange River mouth and the Atlantic Ocean. The oryx enjoyed the greenery of the river, the golf course and the town. Eventually oryx and humans got to trust each other and lived together. It is the only town in the world where free-ranging oryx roam the streets and public parks.

Text and photos by Dirk Heinrich