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Animals: COMMON DUIKER

 
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Common duiker - Sylvicapra grimmia
           
 
 
Habitat requirements    
Common duiker flourish in a wide range of habitats where their need for shelter and suitable food can be met.  The presence of bush is an essential habitat requirement.  Common duiker generally occur in woodland with ample underbush and are absent from open short grassland.  In various areas of their distribution range, common duiker occur widely in acacia woodland and shrub.
 
Food preference    

The diet of the common duiker consists of the leaves, twigs, flowers, fruit and seeds of a wide variety of trees and shrubs.  The leaves and shoots of Acacia spp. Combretum spp, Terminalia sericea  and Ipomoa purpurea are utlised.  Fruit are seasonally important.  The pods of leguminous trees and shrubs as well as figs are eaten readily.  Flowers, bark, resin, roots, bulbs, tubers and fungi are also eaten.  Grass is eaten in small quantities.
 
Water requirements    
Common duiker are not water dependent and even where water is available they rarely drink
 
Minimum viable group size    
2
 
Sex ratio    
one male for every female
 
Herd population growth per annum    
20 percent
 
Life span    

10 years

It is estimated that there are currently 30 common duiker on the farm.