Duikers are small- to medium-sized antelope native to sub-Saharan Africa. They are shy and elusive creatures with a fondness for dense cover. Their name comes from the Afrikaans/Dutch word for diver or diving buck. It refers to the duikers' practice of diving into tangles of shrubbery. They often follow flocks of birds or troops of monkeys to take advantage of the fruit they drop.
Female duikers are a bit larger than males, but both males and females have horns. A large scent gland beneath each eye is used to mark trees and rocks to define territory. Duikers also mark each other’s flanks in a behavior called mutual marking. This marking ritual is done during fights. Rather than flee, duikers stand stock still when they sense danger.
See if you can find our black duikers along the Lagoon Loop in Nairobi Village.
