Aspects of the biology and behaviour of the steenbok Raphicerus campestris (Thunberg, 1811) in the Kruger National Park

Abstract

In wildlife management where habitats and/or the social structure of an animal population is manipulated, a knowledge of the basic behavioral inventory and the conditions in which they occur is necessary. Without this knowledge, environmental and social factors could inadvertently be altered, causing unwanted disruptive influences. Mother-infant contacts are the start of social organization in a wildlife population. Maternal care and care-soliciting behavior are also important in ensuring the survival of a species. In this chapter, the maternal behavior of both free-ranging and captive steenbok is described. Lamb behavior, relevant to the mother's caretaking activities, is also recorded.