The Vegetation of the S. A. Lombard Nature Reserve and its Utilisation by Certain Antelope

Abstract

The S.A. Lombard Nature Reserve is situated about 12 miles west of Bloemhof, Western Transvaal. The reserve is flat open country with a gentle slope to the east and south. Abandoned alluvial diamond diggings which run from north to south divide the reserve into a western and an eastern area which are geologically different. The region is open grass land with small patches of bush, classified as dry Cymbopogon-Themeda veld. The food habits of black wildebeest Connochaetus gnou, blesbok Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi, Cape eland Taurotragus oryx, Cape oryx Oryx gazella, impala Aepyceros melampus, red hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus, and springbok Antidorcas marsupialis were studied over the three year period, 1958 to 1960. All the antelope on this reserve except gemsbok, feed by nibbling the plants here and there, and it was a tedious task to trace the exact feeding spot.