The Cape Town surfing community is abuzz with the apparent obsession of a small bontebok (damaliscus pygargus) herd with local surf spots. Well-known but seldom-crowded surf breaks Olifantstbos and nearby Extensions, which serves up sharp rights off the rocks, have become popular venues for between four and six bontebok, who appear to take up strategic positions and face out to sea.
Like all shy, endangered animals, they keep a sharp eye all around them for predators but a lot of the time they seem to be looking in the direction of the surf, especially when an offshore south-easter is blowing, whipping spray off the top of the breaking waves. It's hard for the human eye not to be attracted to the curling wave section and spray but it appears that this herd is also zoned in.
When an onshore northerly wind blows the herd appears to lose interest in the waves (as do the surfers) and often moves inland to graze. However, it soon wanders back when the offshore breeze lights up again. Surfers in the reserve are speculating whether the herd might drift further south through the fynbos to pick up the action at Platboom, an exposed reef break about a kilometre away. This spot works well in a north-wester, which would give the herd an extra option when the wind is unfavourable at Extensions.
Old hand John Whitman, who has spent a lifetime surfing the breaks in the Far South (formerly known as the Deep South), observed: 'Years ago a tortoise was frequently spotted in the bushes at Inner Kom, apparently checking out the surf dudes when the south-easter was shaping the swell. But this is the first anybody's heard of bontebok, or any antelope for that matter, getting stoked on the local surf action.'
Some surfers are wondering whether the bonteboks' interest in surfing might be picked up by the local baboon population, which is already very familiar with human activities.
Like all shy, endangered animals, they keep a sharp eye all around them for predators but a lot of the time they seem to be looking in the direction of the surf, especially when an offshore south-easter is blowing, whipping spray off the top of the breaking waves. It's hard for the human eye not to be attracted to the curling wave section and spray but it appears that this herd is also zoned in.When an onshore northerly wind blows the herd appears to lose interest in the waves (as do the surfers) and often moves inland to graze. However, it soon wanders back when the offshore breeze lights up again. Surfers in the reserve are speculating whether the herd might drift further south through the fynbos to pick up the action at Platboom, an exposed reef break about a kilometre away. This spot works well in a north-wester, which would give the herd an extra option when the wind is unfavourable at Extensions.
Old hand John Whitman, who has spent a lifetime surfing the breaks in the Far South (formerly known as the Deep South), observed: 'Years ago a tortoise was frequently spotted in the bushes at Inner Kom, apparently checking out the surf dudes when the south-easter was shaping the swell. But this is the first anybody's heard of bontebok, or any antelope for that matter, getting stoked on the local surf action.'
Some surfers are wondering whether the bonteboks' interest in surfing might be picked up by the local baboon population, which is already very familiar with human activities.
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