Ourebia ourebi

The Oribi is a highly-evolved antelope species inhabiting temperate African grasslands. Due to the ever increasing loss of their grassland habitat and continued persecution by man, Oribi numbers in South Africa have declined sharply in recent years with more than 25% of the population having disappeared since 1981.

Oribi are water-independent, and favour moist grasslands on flat to gently undulating terrain. Highly selective feeders, they prefer specific types of short grass, and will only eat certain parts of grass plants. In KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, the species seeks out natural grasslands that are dominated by red grass.

Unlike Common Reedbuck, they seldom use agricultural lands or pastures such as oats and rye grass, as a source of supplementary winter food. As a grasslands flagship species, and with less than 2% of South African grasslands under formal protection, Oribi are key indicators of how well or badly grassland conservation is fairing.

Due to their highly selective feeding habitats, their need for natural grasslands (an ever decreasing supply) and their extreme territorial behaviour, Oribi usually occur in low densities. The effects of habitat destruction and fragmentation, veld mismanagement, and hunting with dogs could thus be devastating. It is therefore critical that measures to halt these processes, mitigate the threats, and increase the stocking rates of Oribi in suitable habitat are immediately implemented. Private landowners applying appropriate grassland management systems play a pivotal role in conserving Oribi on their properties.
 
The EWT’s Oribi Working Group recognises the challenges that farmers face daily, without the added burden of conserving wildlife species. The Group therefore works with farmers and landowners to apply farming and land management practices which are both beneficial to the farmer, the health of the land and the future survival of not only the Oribi, but other species dependant on and associated with the grasslands of South Africa.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Oribi Working Group was established by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in 2001, and consists of a variety of relevant stakeholder groups, striving to improve the future prospects for Oribi and our precious grassland ecosystems.