I am sure all you hardened safari goers knew D was for Dik-Dik. I was sorely tempted to do D is for Dinosaur, but sensibility prevailed at the end of the day, so Dik-Dik it is.
So here goes – 10 useful and interesting facts about this little fellow:
1. The dik-dik is the smallest antelope found in Africa.
2. They stand a mere 30-40 cm at the shoulder (ahhh, sooo sweet!)
3. Females are larger than the males.
4. Only the males have horns which are a massive 7.5 cm…
5. They are called dik-dik after the alarm call made by the females.
6. They normally live in pairs and will mate for life.
7. There are 4 species of dik-dik – the Gunther’s dik-dik, the Kirk’s dik-dik; the Silver dik-dik and the Salt’s dik-dik.
8. Females weigh about 560 to 680 g (1.2–1.4 lb) at birth, while males weigh 725 to 795 g (1.5–1.7 lb).
9. The survival rate for baby dik-diks is only 50%.
10. They can reach speeds up to 42 km (26 miles) an hour.
