Oloolua Nature Trail #7: Dik-Dik Domicile
This is the 7th of a series of 9 caches hidden along this fine hidden gem of a forest trail. See GC44KCB Oloolua Nature Trail #1: The Waterfall for an introduction to the trail, how to get there, trail map and information on opening times and fees.
The cache, a 35mm film canister is hidden near the trail in a location where we spotted dik-dik some 20m away foraging in the bush.
Kirk's Dik Dik (Madoqua kirkii) although tiny, is not the smallest in the world - that distinction belongs to the Royal Antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus) of West Africa lowland forest. It is a common resident of the acacia savannah and shrublands of East Africa and needs heavy shrubbery to hide in and feed on. However it doesn't need to drink water as it can extract enough from its diet which is mainly foliage, shoots, fruits and berries - but little or no grass. It is largely nocturnal, shy and 
elusive and hides in brush most of the time.
It is 30–40 cm (12–16") at the shoulder, 50–70 cm (20–28") long, weighs 3–6 kg (7–16 lb) and in the wild can live for up to 10 years (in captivity the average is over 17 years). The name comes from the female alarm call. Both male and female also make a shrill, whistling sound and these calls may alert other animals to predators - so they are not well liked by game hunters.
They have huge eyes, excellent eyesight and can reach speeds of up to 42 kph (26 mph) which helps them escape from numerous predators, which as well as the usual cats, hyenas, jackals include monitor lizards, raptors, pythons . . . and humans!
Interesting physical features: the male has small horns (7.5 cm / 3.5") slanting backwards, an upright tuft of hair on the crown. A bare black spot 
below the inside corner of each eye contains a pre-orbital gland that produces a dark, sticky secretion. Dik-diks insert grass stems and twigs into this to scent-mark their territories. The most distinguishing feature of this particular species is its snout which is particularly elongated into a proboscis - an adaptation for cooling that allows venous blood to cool by evaporation from the mucous membrane into the nasal cavity during normal breathing. Under extreme heat stress they also use nasal panting - however they can tolerate air temperatures of up to 40°C (104 °F).
They are monogamous, but males will try to obtain extra-pair mating when possible. Females are sexually mature at 6 months and males at 12 months. The female has a single fawn weighing 560-795g up to twice a year (at the start & end of the rains) after 169-174 days gestation. The mother lactates for 6 weeks and feeds her fawn for only a few minutes at a time, and only 50% of fawns survive to adulthood. The young keep hidden for a while after birth, but grow quickly and reach full size by 7 months when they are forced to leave their parents' territory.
Dik-diks are extensively hunted in some areas for their skins, which are used to make gloves - one hide for each glove.
See here and here for more information on this mini-antelope.
See here for video of 2 males sparring to establish territorial dominance - all very civilised (no one gets hurt) . . . note the raised hair tufts on the crown.
See here for interesting (if shaky at times!) footage of an interaction between a dik dik and a rock python in Nakuru National Park - you can hear the whistled alarm call clearly (as well as some commentary!).
This video clearly shows its weird proboscis nose which helps it stay cool - you can also learn some German at the same time!
Here a dik dik manages to escape the carnivorous attentions of two hungry lions using its turn of speed and agile zig-zag escape tactics. This one was not quite quick or agile enough!
Permission to place the cache was kindly given by the Institute of Primate Research who manage this trail