The Kirk’s Dik-Dik (Madoqua kirkii) is a small mammal in the Bovidae family. It is an antelope.
The Kirk’s Dik-Dik is fawn coloured with dainty features, such as thin legs, large ears, and large eyes with white eye-rings. It has a long nose. Only the male Dik-Dik has horns. The horns are about 8 centimetres (3 inches) long and backward slanted.
Kirk’s Dik-Dik
It grows to about 35-46 centimetres (14-18 inches) tall. Its horns are about 8 centimetres (3 inches) long and backward slanted. It can run at speeds of up to 42 kilometers per hour (26 miles per hour).
It is a nocturnal, active at night. It is an herbivorous browser, eating plants, herbs, fruit, and tree leaves.
The Kirk’s Dik-Dik is native to eastern Africa. It likes savannahs and dry areas, where it can hide in bushes. It is a shy animal.
Kirk’s Dik-Dik
It lives in pairs, mating for life. The female is pregnant for 5-6 months, before giving birth to 1-2 live young. The mother hides her young in tall grass to prevent them from being attacked by predators, such as cheetahs, leopards, lions, eagles, hyenas, crocodiles, baboons, and jackals.
The lifespan of Kirk’s Dik-Dik in the wild is about 5 years.
Kirk’s Dik-Dik
Kirk’s Dik-Dik
Kirk’s Dik-Dik
[Location of photographs: north-west Kenya and Paris Zoo, France]
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM