Conservation And Protection Of Silver Dik-dik
The silver dik-dik is a small antelope that weighs little more than a house cat. It can be located on a long, narrow coastal strip that stretches 250 kilometers from the Somali capital.
More specifically, it inhabits from northern Mogadishu to the port city of Hobyo. This coastal strip is known as the Hobyo grassland and shrub ecoregion, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
This ecoregion has white and orange sand dunes and endemic species of birds, mammals and reptiles. However, political instability has left this area largely unexplored by scientists.
Thus, of the four recognized species of dik-dik, scientists know very little about silver dik-dik.
Physical description of the silver dik-dik
Initially, this animal was believed to be of the same species as the salt dik-dik. However, the silver dik-dik was classified as a distinct species in 1978.
The difference was demarcated as a function of their consistently smaller size, uniformly silver color and the length of the topline of their teeth.
Some scientists are analyzing the physical characteristics of silver dik-diks to distinguish them from other species. A team examined the differences in coat color and size by looking at photographs from the Museum of Zoology and Natural History in La Specola, Italy.
In addition, specimens from the collection of the Faraggiana-Ferrandi Natural History Museum, also in Italy, were used as a basis for further comparisons.
All dik-diks have large dark eyes surrounded by white fur. In addition, they have a thick lock of hair that protrudes between the short horns of the males. The group found several distinguishing features in the silver dik-dik, including its size.
Silver dik-diks are smaller, with smaller ears and a less distinctive white circle around the eyes. In addition, the dik-dik’s individual silvery fur has a black tip, followed by a cream streak and then a reddish brown.
These alternating light and dark bands never exceed five millimeters.
Lack of data on this species
Scientists know very little about the actual distribution and population size of the silver dik-dik. Originally, silver dik-diks were thought to be limited to the coast of Somalia.
However, this antelope was recently photographed in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia, which borders Somalia.
In 1999, scientists estimated the population of silver dik-dik to be 30,000 specimens. However, even with new knowledge about their distribution, this number may have been overestimated.
According to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the species is classified as “data deficient” due to a lack of available information.
The trend in population size is not precisely known, but it is certainly declining, experts say. The silver dik-dik population lives in areas that are not protected.
These creatures are often hunted as their skin is highly prized. In addition, male horns are exported or used to make key chains.
The silver dik-dik is also sold alive and is used to train hunting falcons due to its small stature. These species may also be suffering from the destruction of their habitat at the hands of humans.
Years of political instability due to ongoing conflicts in Somalia have increased human activity along the country’s coastal habitat.
