PRELIMINARY-RESULTS ON THE SOCIAL-ORGANIZATION OF ENCLOSED SPRINGBOK (ANTIDORCAS-MARSUPIALIS)

We studied the social organisation of a springbok (Antidorcas marsupia lis) population living in an 18-hectare enclosure in Southern France o ver nine months. Throughout the study period, the 2 oldest males occup ied fairly exclusive ranges, from which they chased the 3 Younger male s, These young males made up an unstable group that lived on a restric ted areal overlapping the margins of the two old males' ranges Females and kids made up unstable groups that moved through the males' ranges and thus occupied the whole available space. Such a social organisati on is rather similar to that described in Thomson's gazelle (Gazella t homsonii). Clearly, the notion of ''harem''. sometimes used to summari se the social organisation of the Springbok, does not apply to the stu died population.