Springbok  (Antidorcas marsupialis)

The springbok has disappeared from many parts of South Africa within the last 100 years, and most are now confined to fenced farmland or game reserves (3) (6). Ranching of springbok for their lean meat has been common since the early 1900s, and their skin is also utilized. Mixed herds of springbok and merino sheep (Ovis aries) are common farming combinations in the Karoo (3). Thus, whilst the springbok is not yet threatened, populations are increasingly reliant on continued demand for their products, as an incentive for humans to keep them on their land and ensure population numbers remain healthy. In parts of Namibia and in the Kalahari springbok continue to roam freely, but their movements are increasingly constrained by the construction of fences (6).

IUCN does not consider the adaptable springbok to be threatened (1), although it is somewhat dependent on the continued management of the many farms and game reserves in which it occurs.