Kirk's Dik-dik
Madoqua kirkii
Kirk's Dik-dik: One of Africa's tiniest antelopes, famous for its enormous eyes and lifelong pair bonds.
| Scientific name | Madoqua kirkii |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Dikidiki |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Bovidae |
| Size | Weight 3-7 kg, shoulder height 35-45 cm, body length 52-67 cm; males have short straight horns 3-7 cm long |
How to identify
One of Africa's smallest antelopes; reddish-brown to grayish-brown coat with white underside; most distinctive feature is the oversized round dark eyes with white eye-rings; elongated flexible snout; males have short straight horns hidden under a tuft of hair; slender legs with slightly longer hindlegs; short tail
Habitat
Dry shrublands, thornbush, semi-arid savanna, and riparian vegetation; prefers areas with dense low shrub cover
Diet
Herbivorous, feeding on leaves, shoots, berries, flowers, and succulent plants; rarely needs to drink water, obtaining moisture from food
When it is active
Crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk), resting in shade of shrubs during hot midday hours
Where it lives
Mainly distributed in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania) and southern Africa (Namibia, Angola, Botswana); found in Serengeti, Masai Mara, Amboseli and other reserves
How to spot it
Look for pairs at shrub edges and trails, as dik-diks mate for life; listen for their sharp 'zik-zik' alarm call to locate them; best observed at dawn and dusk near water sources
Photography tips
Use a long telephoto lens (400mm+) to capture close-ups of their large eyes; shoot in soft dawn/dusk light, avoid harsh midday sun; wait patiently at shrub edges for pairs to appear
Threats
Habitat loss and degradation, agricultural expansion, predators (leopard, cheetah, eagles, pythons), poaching for bushmeat and traditional medicine
Similar species
Salt's dik-dik (Madoqua saltiana), found in northeastern Africa, similar size; Swayne's dik-dik (Madoqua swaynei), limited range in Ethiopia and Somalia
