While life in the wild might be a constant struggle for survival, there are many kinds of animals, both predators and prey, that find the time for play.
These two klipspringers, a male and female pair, were caught on camera by Graham Stokoe, and they were whittling away time on a carefree day by chasing each other and having fun.
Male and female pairs like this bond for long periods of time during which they never stray far from each other. This desire to be close to one another just makes them all the more adorable.
Natural Agility
The two antelope were standing on the top of an enormous boulder when Graham began filming, and they started to show off their natural agility instantly as the male leapt to the ground below and darted through the rocks.
Environments like these pose no obstacle to nimble klipspringers, but they help to protect them from predators which might not be as capable of leaping between the large rocks in the same way.
The Chase Is On
While the male seemed to take a moment to observe Graham watching from his vehicle to confirm he wasn’t any kind of threat, the two animals didn’t seem concerned by his presence in any way, and the game was on.
The female leapt down from her vantage point on the boulder and chased the male as their playful games began, including a round of peekaboo from behind a large rock as the male poked his head up.
And then they were off once more, sprinting around the rocks in an undeniable expression of joy and excitement which is satisfying to watch. Neither of them missed a step as they cavorted through the rocks.
Reunited In Play
Even when the two klipspringers took a short break from racing through the large rocks around them, they did so together. Standing atop a large stone which offered them a good lookout, they made a very picturesque couple.
Unlike many other kinds of antelope, klipspringers will bond with each other for life and practice monogamous relationships. These two will likely stay together for the entirety of their lives.
Time To Move Fast
For all its significance, the moment was short lived and before a few minutes had passed the two antelope were back to sprinting around as fast as they could, as though possessed by some spirit of speed.
Their two modes were apparently everywhere all at once, and standing still for pretty moments. This was a time where being in one place for more than a second might have meant that one of them would be the loser in whatever game they were playing.
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Sticking Like Glue
After this latest burst of speed they both ended up on the large boulder where Graham had first sighted them. After testing Graham’s ability to track them with his camera, they seemed content to stay there and rest for a moment.
They were simultaneously demonstrating their ability to cling to rock faces where other animals would have fallen. Rather than stand higher on the boulder where the ground was flat, the klipspringer couple stood at a point where the face almost appeared to be vertical.
Not every sighting needs the excitement of a predator to be amazing, and Graham’s footage of these two klipspringers doing nothing more than enjoying their time together is proof of that.