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31
Duikers
Duikers (Cephalophus and Sylv~capra species) are
small African antelopes. Although they are ruminants
like cattle, sheep, and goats, some are hardly bigger t
than hares or rabbits. One, the blue duiker, is less
than 40 cm high and usually weighs a mere 4 6 kg. It
and some of the slightly larger duikers might be suitable
for household husbandry because their meat is an extremely popular
food throughout much of Africa. In West Africa, for example, it is
one of the most common meats sold in both rural and urban markets.
This idea, however, is highly speculative because, despite their
popularity, little is known about these tiny animals. Their husbandry
has been attempted only a few times, but the results were encouraging,
and rearing duikers deserves further investigation. They are already
being raised in captivity in the United States, Zimbabwe,2 Togo, 3 and
Gabon. Researchers in Nigeria have bred blue duikers to the fourth
generation and found that, if the animals were first handled by people
while young, they remained docile.4 Even blue duikers caught in the
wild tame quickly if they are very young, but by the time they reach
3.5 months, they become barely tolerant of man's presence.
If duiker husbandry can be developed, it might provide not only a
more regular source of meat, but also a lessening of the hunting
pressures, thereby giving the wild populations a better chance of
survival.
AREA OF POTENTIAL USE
These antelopes are suitable for testing as microlivestock only in
their native region, sub-Saharan Africa. Eventually, they might prove
to have wider applicability.
~ Information from R. Cowan.
2 Chipangali Wildlife Trust, Bulawayo.
3 Information from B. Chardonnet.
4 Whittle and Whittle, 1977.
327
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328
APPEARANCE AND SIZE
MICROLIVESTOCK
Duiker species vary from about the size of a small dog to that of a
small donkey. Most are similar in shape and are characterized by short
front legs, arched back, and pointed hoofs. The tail is stubby, often
with a terminal tuft. The coat varies from reddish brown to nearly
black, although a few species are blue-gray and one is zebra striped.
Females are slightly larger than males, but the sexes look alike. In
most species, both sexes bear small straight horns that project backward
from the skull, frequently hidden in a long tuft of hair.
DISTRIBUTION
Duikers inhabit virtually all regions of Africa below the Sahara
from Gambia in the west to Ethiopia in the east, and all countries as
far south as South Africa.
STATUS
Duikers are so shy that they are rarely encountered by people. But
almost anywhere in Africa (other than North Africa), the observant
traveler may glimpse them ducking into forests or thickets. Although
there are still countless numbers, people are eating so many that in
some localized areas the populations are fast heading toward extinction.
HABITAT AND ENVIRONMENT
All but one species are found in rainforests or dense woodlands.
The gray duiker, however, is found in savannas. If the vegetation is
juicy, only a few of the species need a separate water source, so they
can thrive in very dry sites.
BIOLOGY
The main foods are fruits and seeds supplemented by leaves and
shoots. Fruits, which they eat to a much greater degree than other
antelopes, are an important part of their diet. Some rare species (for
example, the red-harked duiker, C. rufilatus' can graze. Occasionally
(especially in captivity), duikers are also omnivorous, eating fish,
crabs, insects, snails, frogs, small animals, or carrion; they also readily
accept chopped meat.
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DUIKERS
329
Duikers reach sexual maturity at 9-15 months; gestation lasts about
7-8 months. In some species, females conceive a few days after calving
on a 3- to 5-day postpartum estrus. Apparently one calf per birth is
normal. A newborn blue duiker weighs between 0.4 and 0.7 kg.
Before one year of age, young duikers leave their parents to find
their own mates and territories. Life expectancy is more than 10 years.
BEHAVIOR
In spite of habitat differences, most duikers behave alike. In the
wild they are nervous, shy, and retiring. When alarmed, they plunge
into the protection of dense vegetation hence the origin of the name
duiker, which means "diver." Nonetheless, their behavior allows them
to be easily netted. An experienced hunter can imitate duiker sounds
and call the male out of the bush. Also, a startled animal freezes,
thereby facilitating its capture.
Moving easily through dense vegetation, the head carried low, these
tiny animals use regular runs. Forest duiker species are largely diurnal,
although a few, such as the bay duiker, are nocturnal. Bush duikers
are mainly nocturnal, feeding from early evening until morning. Such
nocturnal species shelter during the day in holes (presumably dug by
other animals) or inside fallen trees; the diurnal ones lie directly on
the ground.
Blue duikers are the best-known species and are probably the most
likely candidates for microlivestock (see page 3321. They seem to be
monogamous and apparently mate for life. Unlike most antelopes,
their population densities can be high. The pairs reside in territories
of 2 - hectares, which both male and female stoutly defend against
rivals. Other species appear to be polygamous and live in large
territories (up to 80 hectares).
In captivity, the animals are generally calm. However, both males
and females can be aggressive toward unfamiliar individuals of their
own species. In an enclosure, one male can serve several females.
Large glands, located beneath each eye, exude a scent that is rubbed
onto fences, trees, and other objects as territorial marking. In another
form of marking the horns are rubbed against tree trunks.
USES
As noted, duiker meat is much sought in many African countries,
and the animals are regularly hunted. The meat is lean with little or
no intramuscular fat (marbling).
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MICROLIVESTOCK
it.
j.-
Male blue duiker. (A.R. Devez, CNRS, Mission Biologique au Gabon)
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DUIKERS
331
Duikers also have promise as experimental animals. They are true
ruminants, with four-part stomachs, and they produce cud. Some are
only rabbit size, they need far less room or feed than sheep, and thus
are potentially an efficient test animal for determining '
_ _ _ 1 ~ ~. ·. ~.
_ the nutritional
value or forages. Clue gulpers, tor instance, have a digestion efficiency
comparable to that of sheep, but, because of their small size, a test
needs only four rabbit cages and 5-10 kg of feed. Sheep, by comparison,
require much more spacious facilities and 150 kg of feed.
In Nigeria, blue duiker pelts are used in making karosses, a traditional
dress. A single garment may contain up to 60 pelts.
HUSBANDRY
Almost nothing is known about rearing duikers, but they seem to
tame easily and perhaps may be kept in backyards like goats. Indeed,
they reportedly make good house pets when hand raised. They are
attractive, and from the day of capture young ones can be handled
and petted.5
The Nigerian researchers who bred blue duikers to the fourth
generation bottle-fed young specimens five times a day. Older animals
,.. _ _.~ ¢_ _ 1 _ .1_ _ . ~ ~ ~ ~
_r ~ ~
were given reeds that included banana, plantain, and papaya; leaves
or n~scus, cassava, and banana; and dried corn. Variety seemed to
be important, and the researchers could not predict the quantity of
particular foods the animals would choose on any given day. In addition
to varied vegetables, a small dish of salt or a salt lick was sometimes
required.6
Duikers are unlikely to run away, except when startled. However,
providing an enclosure is worthwhile. It enables them to establish a
territory by marking poles, bushes, and fences. Although needing
space in which to run, as little as 10 m2 is reportedly sufficient for 2-
4 animals.
Satisfactory shelters include an open-ended oil drum laid on its side,
a lean-to made of palm frond, or a small hut made of local matting.
Apart from providing shade and protection, shelters should be built
so that excited animals can run through them. When cornered, duikers
tend to either flee for shelter or jump upwards; a run-through shelter
can prevent a frightened one from accidentally leaping over the fence.
Based on their own experiences, researchers at Pennsylvania State
University in the United States report that blue duikers raised in
captivity are easy to maintain, reproduce well, and are not fussy about
5 Information from R. Cowan.
6 Whittle and Whittle, 1977. The authors used the subspecies known as Maxwell's
duiker.
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TI1E BLUE DUIKER
In one sense, the blue duiker is the most important animal
in Africa. It is the only one found throughout the continent
south of the Sahara. It occurs at a greater range of altitudes
than most as low as sea level in many places to almost 5, 000
m elevation in Kenya. It occurs in habitats from dense rain-
forests to dryland savannas. And, in sub-Saharan Africa as a
whole, the blue duiker is eaten more than any other animal
(although in West Africa it is generally called Maxwell's duiker).
This very small antelope, caught by snare or net, can be
found in the meat markets of villages, towns, and cities in all
countries from Senegal to Madagascar. It is a source of food
for tens of millions. Bushmen, Pygmies, Dinkas, and Mandin-
gos, thousands of miles apart, all share the same fondness
for duiker meat and for duiker-skin clothes.
Nevertheless, scientifically speaking this is one of the world's
least-known animals. And its numbers are diminishing rapidly.
Areas that used to have plenty now have few or none. Over-
hunting and destruction of the rainforests are jointly contrib-
uting to their decline.
Despite the losses, people are snaring as many as they can,
and there is no sense of concern not even among most
conservationists. Ilowever, in many locations there is already
evidence that the animals won't be around much longer. Unless
something is done-and soon-people will lose their major
source of animal protein. If that happens, it is likely that they
will move on to larger animals, such as gorillas, which would
be an even worse disaster.
The best long-term solution is to organize duiker husbandry.
Learning to rear duikers would benefit people throughout
Africa. The blue duiker is the most suitable species; it is the
most common and the most important. Also, it inhabits the
edges of the forest and could therefore become a suitable
species for ranching without denuding the forest.
Blue duikers are easy to maintain in captivity. They tame
readily and like to shelter and sleep in boxes or cages. They
are good converters of vegetation and produce top-quality lean
meat. In addition, they are neither affected by tsetse flies nor
are very susceptible to diseases.
The key now is to learn how to keep these very timid creatures
under different conditions. We need to know their foods
(especially foods that might be harvested from forests) and
reproductive biology. We need to know the right numbers to
house together. Most of all, we need projects aimed at rearing
and breeding them in captivity under village conditions.
Vivian J. Wilson
332
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DUIKERS
333
environmental conditions. In fact, they say, blue duikers seem to enjoy
it- · · 7
living in cages.
In order to raise duikers successfully, post-pubertal males must be
separated. A female should be bred with the same male throughout
her productive life span.
ADVANTAGES
Many African countries already have a ready market for duiker
meat. It is somewhat similar to goat meat, but most people agree that
. . .
it Is superior.
The animal can live on fibrous vegetation. Unlike conventional
ruminant livestock, it is suitable for feeding an average family at one
meal.
The ability to forage in undergrowth where other domestic livestock
do not thrive makes duikers potential livestock for tropical forest and
bushland regions. They can be raised for meat without cutting the
trees or bushes to create pastures.
LIMITATIONS
Duikers are easy prey for predators: eagles, pythons, wildcats, and
people, among others. Thus, they probably require more sophisticated
management than common livestock such as goats. However, the
quality of their meat could more than compensate for the extra effort.
Some species are territorial, which means that they may do poorly
in captivity, unless their social organization can be altered.
Under good conditions, the ideal slaughtering age reportedly occurs
at =10 months, when the blue duiker can weigh 4 kg. Compared to
rabbits and guinea pigs, production is relatively slow because of long
gestation and lack of multiple births.
Duikers are resistant to trypanosomiasis.
One general problem is that duikers have short, sharp horns designed
specifically for jabbing. This could be a potential danger, especially
since the males of some species become aggressive when their females
are receptive. However, the horns can easily be clipped and taped to
limit the danger.
7 Information from R. Cowan.
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334
RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION NEEDS
MICROLIVESTOCK
Because of the duikers' secluded lifestyle, much has still to be
learned about their habits. Specific information on behavior and
breeding is needed.
Animal scientists in Africa should gather small herds for comparative
studies. This will provide insights into whether duiker temperaments
facilitate or hinder their utilization. In addition, assessments of diet,
growth rates, behavior in captivity, reproductive rate, adaptability,
and future potential can be made. Management considerations include
clipping horns, trimming hooves, and controlling lice and fleas.
Research of particular value would be chemical analysis of duiker
milk and of other characteristic glandular secretions. The latter lend
themselves especially to a study of animal communication.
Farming duikers might help rescue the wild populations by relieving
hunting pressures. Programs in this area are recommended for locations
where overhunting is occurring.
-
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it'
,,)
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Klipspringer
.(
Representative terms from entire chapter:
blue duikers
