There are not many locations where all four color phases can be found on one ranch and none with the quality of Jules of the Karoo.
Common Springbok
Besides the Common Springbok, there are three color phases that have become popular to collect. They are black, white and copper springbok. It is a fun and challenging quest that makes a colourful quartet in any trophy room when mounted together.
Black Springbok
The first record sighting of a black springbok was in 1886. Then one appeared in the 1950’s about 100 miles south of Jules of the Karoo. The rancher breed the black springbok until it bore another black springbok with the same recessive gene. Then he bred the two black springbok and the color mutation repeated itself more rapidly until a herd was building. Today there are thousands of black springbok. There are over 800 black springbok at Jules of the Karoo. Typically the black stripes on the sides are visibly darker black than the rest of the animal. They also have white markings on its face.
White Springbok
In the same way as the black springbok, a white springbok with a recessive gene appeared naturally. This time it was in the Eastern Cape Province. The white springbok is not an albino, but instead it is just a color phase. They do not have pink eyes. Jules of the Karoo has over 1,300 white springbok roaming the farm.
Copper Springbok
Thirty years ago in the Orange Free State the copper springbok was found and bred until a herd developed. The copper springbok is unique among the color phases in that the color mutation can repeat itself in the first generation. As a result, this color phase will grow rapidly despite it being the youngest color phase. The copper or caramel color replaces the white found on the belly of the common springbok below the side stripes.
