Damaliscus p. phillipsi occur primarily on grasslands, especially open plateau grasslands, characteristic of the South African Highveld, extending to altitudes of up to 2,000 m asl (East 1999). They prefer short grass and depend largely on the availability of drinking water (David and Lloyd 2013). Damaliscus p. pygargus is very closely associated with the East Coast Renosterveld bioregion. They are almost exclusively grazers with a preference for short grass and recently burnt veld (Beukes 1984, 1987; Novellie 1987; Kraaij and Novellie 2010). Water is an essential requirement and they stay within 1.5 km of surface water during the dry season.

Damaliscus p. pygargus are adapted to unique habitat and climatic conditions: the East Coast Renosterveld bioregion receives some rain throughout the year but has a distinct peak during winter with about 65% of rain falling between April and October. This subspecies has thus adapted over at least 20,000 years to a climate of wet and cold winters and warm and dry summers, the opposite to the conditions experienced by D. p. phillipsi with warm and wet summers and very cold but dry winters.

For further detail see the subspecies accounts.

Blesbok is endemic to southern Africa. Historically, Damaliscus pygargus pygargus ranged across the Highveld grasslands of South Africa in the Free State and Gauteng provinces, extending into northwestern KwaZulu-Natal, and through parts of the Karoo in the Eastern and Northern Cape. Damaliscus p. phillipsi is endemic to the Western Cape, the ranges of the two forms separated by over 300 km (Skinner and Chimimba 2005).

Range and population were reduced by hunting in the 19th century but populations of D. p. phillipsi have recovered remarkably, especially on private land, and have been relocated across South Africa to regions both within and outside its indigenous range (for example, Power 2014). Formerly present in western Lesotho, but hunted to extinction before 1900 (Lynch 1994). Swaziland is outside the historical range, but extralimital introductions have occurred in Malolotja Nature Reserve and Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary (Monadjem 1998). The species has also been introduced to private game farms outside its indigenous range in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia (East 1999).

Damaliscus p. pygargus are endemic to the Western Cape, South Africa, although introductions have been made in most provinces. Historically, they were confined to the coastal plain east of the Kogelberg in the Western Cape where they are believed to have concentrated on the renosterveld areas (Boshoff and Kerley 2001, Skead 2011). Extra-limital subpopulations have been established on private farms or ranches in at least the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and North West provinces, and there is pressure to increase the extent of introduction (Power 2014).

The Bontebok D. p. pygargus is listed in CITES Appendix II.

This species occurs within a number of formally and privately protected areas across a number of provinces in South Africa. The economic value and popularity of D. p. phillipsi on private farms has enabled this subspecies to re-occupy large areas of its original range and substantial extra-limital subpopulations have also been established on private land outside its natural range in South Africa and elsewhere. Identification of hybrid populations and the restrictions on movement of hybrids are recommended as key actions to conserve the subspecies.

For D. p. pygargus, key protected areas include Bontebok National Park (genetically certified pure subpopulation within the natural range); Table Mountain National Park (genetically certified pure subpopulation within the benign introduction range); De Hoop Nature Reserve and Denel Overberg Test Range (largest subpopulation within the natural range); and Agulhas National Park (potential for significant subpopulation growth within the natural range). A metapopulation management plan covering all the fragmented subpopulations is urgently needed.  

See the subspecies accounts for detailed recommendations.