Springbok

The Springbok is a type of mammal Friend that debuted in the original Kemono Friends mobile game.

Springbok
スプリングボック
Character Data
Romaji		Supuringubokku
Debut		Kemono Friends (2015 Game)
Animal Data
Scientific Name		Antidorcas marsupialis
Distribution		South Africa
Diet		Herbivore
Avg. Lifespan		7-9 years
Read More		Springbok
Conservation

Springbok

Pavilion

KF3

Nexon Game

Gallery

Appearance

Current Design Appearance

In her current design, Springbok has deep peachy soil colored hair, fastened with a pink bind in a medium length ponytail. Her bangs are white and slope down to a point in the center. At the edges, her bangs also feature white chin-length bunches of hair covering both human ears and thinner dark brown bunches at the inner edges. Atop her head are two long, pointed ears with narrow openings featuring dark brown inner ear markings. Between these ears, she has two pointy black horns which are ribbed and inwardly curved. Her eyes are brown.

She wears a long-sleeved, zipped up tracksuit jacket with a tall collar. Like her hair, the jacket is a deep peachy soil color with a white front and thick, dark brown lines falling from the underarms. Slightly covered by the jacket, she wears a brown pleated skirt with a dark brown stripe at the edge. Under the skirt, she wears a pair of tights which are a deep peach color on the outer legs and a white color at the inner legs. She also wears a pair of black gloves.

For footwear, Springbok wears a pair of white ballerina flats with a black front end. Her tail is thin, medium in size, and is a deep peach color at the base, descending to a dark brown at the end. Emerging from under her skirt is a patch of long white dorsal hairs. In her right hand, she holds a long pink and white striped staff with a fuzzy pink end from which a set of springbok horns emerges. Springbok is depicted performing a pronking jump.

Original Design Appearance

In her original design, Springbok has long, waist-length, light brown hair which is white colored on the underside. Her bangs include two adjacent crescent bunches of white hair and a light brown middle bunch that slopes down to a point. Atop her head, she has two white antelope ears with brown tips and a pair of curved horns. She has gray-blue eyes.

She wears a brown collared shirt with a patch of white from the chest down and features a gold and white bolo tie. Over the shirt, she wears a Juliet sleeved brown blazer with white underarms and white cuffs. Below the shirt, she wears a dark cerulean pleated skirt with a white stripe at the edge. She wears light brown tights which are white on the inward sides.

Springbok sports a pair of light brown penny loafers. Her tail is thin, short, and is black at the end. She also holds a blue handled staff with a ribbed, black horn at each end.

Series Appearances

Appearances In Kemono Friends Media

Media		Role
2015	Nexon Game	↪ Minor character, playable
2018	Kemono Friends Pavilion	↪ Observable character
2019	Kemono Friends 3	↪ Photo illustration

In Real Life

A male springbok in Etosha National Park in Namibia.

The Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) is a species of antelope native to southwestern Africa, occupying much of Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and southwestern Angola.

There are three recognized subspecies, A. m. angolensis, A. m. hofmeyri, and A. m. marsupialis. The springbok was first described by German zoologist E. A. W. von Zimmermann in 1780, who gave the species it's scientific name. The marsupialis portion of the name refers to a dorsal skin fold from which long white hairs protrude when a Springbok preforms its signature pronking jump. Of the three subspecies, A. m. angolensis is found in northwestern Namibia and southwestern Angola, A. m. hofmeyri is the largest in size and is found in most of Namibia, Botswana and northern South Africa, and A. m. marsupialis is the smallest in size and is found in most of southern South Africa. Both male and female Springbok have dark, inward pointing horns with many ribs, but female horns are more slender in size.

The Springbok inhabits arid regions of southwestern Africa and is commonly found in open grasslands. Springbok generally avoid movement restricting areas such as mountains and forests. Springbok browse and graze seasonally, consuming grasses such as succulent grass in the warmer rainy season and shrubs in the dry season. They drink water opportunistically and can survive off of the water in the vegetation they consume if it contains at least 10 percent water content. Springbok are most active in the early morning and early evening hours of the day. Feeding most often occurs during these times. On hot days Springbok may forage at night and on cool days they may also forage during the middle of the day. At the end of the rainy season, when the Springbok are faring the best, they will enter their annual rut. During the rut, males will attempt to herd females that enter their territory and will clash with neighboring males as well as males that invade their territory. According to Richard Estes, fights will consist of “front-pressing, lateral twisting, and levering”. When frightened, Springbok will jump up to 2 meters high and can run as fast as 55 miles per hour (88km). When excited, they will perform their namesake pronking jump and spring into the air while erecting their white dorsal hairs, stiffening their legs, and arching their back.

During their peak population numbers, Springbok would mass migrate in what was called trekbokking. The species was exterminated in much of its South African range during the late 1800s as hunting and outbreaks of the rinderpest cattle disease greatly reduced their numbers. They still inhabit most of their historical range, but the Angolan population is now much smaller. Springbok were reintroduced in much of their former range in the mid 90s and an estimated 60% of the population now resides on private land, with only 12% residing in protected areas. The IUCN estimates the total Springbok population to have 1.4 to 1.75 million mature individuals with a positive population trend.

Hunted and farmed, for their meat, skin, and horns, among other things, Springbok are valuable animals in southern Africa’s game ranching industry where they are especially prized for their meat and skins. The meat is often used for biltong, which is dried salted meat. The springbok is the national animal of South Africa and is the official emblem of the South African rugby team.

A young pronking Springbok.