Update
GEORGE NEWS - The black springbok calf that was born at Kingswood Golf Estate earlier this month, has had everyone in a tizz about what to name the little cutie.
The decision was ultimately given to the Kingswood residents who had to vote for the name they thought best suited the little guy. The top ten name suggestions were Siya, Charkie, Marmite, Rassie, Oreo, Kolisi, Midnight, Black Beauty, KingsBok and Allblack.
As expected, it was 'Siya' that came away with the win.
The golf estate welcomed Siya on Friday 4 October and according to Kingswood's communications and marketing manager, Charleen le Roux, he is flourishing in his habitat with his herd.
"There has been no reason for concern so far. He is a happy little guy and his whole herd accepted him completely. He is being monitored daily and management will intervene if need be," she says.
Black springboks are exceptionally uncommon and result from a rare genetic variation. While exact numbers are unknown, they are significantly scarcer than their common counterparts.
The cause of blackness is melanism, a process where melanin is produced in excess, causing black or very dark-coloured animals.
Read a previous article: Kingswood hits hole-in-one with black springbok
Little Siya on a lunch break with his mother. Photo: Alexander Stamrood
Siya taking some time out from his busy life as a celebrity springbok. Photo: Nico Booyens‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
