When conservationist and wildlife photographer Dr. Jess Isden trekked across the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana, she expected to encounter the usual wonders of the desert: vast golden plains, thorny acacia trees, and the iconic silhouettes of gemsbok antelopes moving gracefully across the horizon. But on this particular trip, something unusual caught her attention.
One striking male gemsbok stood out from the rest. His tall, pointed horns — usually sharp and gleaming — were covered in a strange, glistening mass of spider webs. At first glance, it looked like delicate silk threads catching the sunlight, but as Dr. Isden drew closer, she realized that the webs were not just loose strands. They were dense, layered, and home to several small spiders that had made this antelope’s horns their permanent residence.
A Rare and Unexpected Discovery
While gemsbok are often seen brushing through shrubs and thorny vegetation, occasionally picking up bits of debris or even thin spider strands, this particular sight was something completely out of the ordinary.
“We’ve seen gemsbok with light webbing before, but nothing close to this level,” Dr. Isden shared. The tangled crown looked as though it had been building up for days, forming an almost regal headpiece that gave the animal a surreal, mystical appearance.
Most observers would assume that the antelope would quickly rid himself of such an adornment by rubbing against trees or rocks. Yet, when Dr. Isden and her team returned days later, they were amazed to see the very same gemsbok still wearing his elaborate crown, perfectly intact.
A Question of Tolerance or Choice
This raised an intriguing question: was the webbing simply an accident, or was the gemsbok deliberately tolerating it?
Typically, large herbivores like gemsbok are quick to shake off irritants or scrape their horns against rough surfaces to free themselves from anything unusual. But in this case, the male showed no effort to remove the thick webbing.
Dr. Isden speculated that the antelope may have chosen to leave the webs alone, suggesting a degree of tolerance — or perhaps even an understanding that the arrangement provided some kind of benefit.
Could It Be a Symbiotic Relationship?
When Dr. Isden shared photos of the horned spectacle online, people began buzzing with theories. Many believed the antelope had simply blundered into a large web, picking it up by accident. But others wondered if something deeper was at play.
Some suggested a possible symbiotic relationship between the gemsbok and the spiders. Spiders living on the horns would have access to a steady stream of insects drawn to the large animal’s body. In return, they might help the gemsbok by reducing the number of biting flies and parasites that often pester antelopes in the wild.
One commenter even joked that the gemsbok had found his own natural “insect repellent.” Another pointed out that spiders often thrive in places where food is abundant, and the horns may have provided both a safe home and a near-constant buffet.
Gemsbok: Masters of Survival in Harsh Environments
To fully appreciate this unusual discovery, it helps to understand the gemsbok itself. Known for their long, spear-like horns and striking black-and-white facial markings, gemsbok are one of the most iconic antelope species of the African savannah. They are superbly adapted to the harsh desert conditions of the Kalahari, able to survive extreme heat and long periods without water by drawing moisture from the plants they eat.
Male gemsbok use their horns for both defense and dominance, often engaging in sparring matches with rivals. For such an important feature of their survival, the idea that one male allowed his horns to host spiders is remarkable. It suggests that the animal either wasn’t inconvenienced by the webs or, perhaps, even benefitted from them in subtle ways.
Nature’s Unexpected Partnerships
The natural world is filled with surprising collaborations between species. Birds like oxpeckers famously perch on large mammals, feeding on ticks while keeping their hosts relatively parasite-free. Cleaner fish remove debris from the mouths of larger fish, helping both species thrive.
Could this gemsbok and his eight-legged companions be another example of such cooperation? While it may not have been intentional, the relationship seemed to work. The spiders had a secure, elevated home with endless food opportunities, while the gemsbok likely enjoyed fewer biting pests around his face and body.
A Crown Fit for a King
For days, the gemsbok roamed the savannah with his unusual crown, completely unbothered by the extra weight or appearance. To the conservationists watching, it was a breathtaking reminder of how adaptable and unpredictable nature can be.
What began as a curious observation turned into a fascinating glimpse into the possibilities of interspecies tolerance. Whether by accident or design, the gemsbok wore his silken crown with a quiet dignity — while his tiny passengers thrived in their unusual mobile fortress.
As Dr. Isden put it, “The spiders seemed quite content, and the gemsbok didn’t appear to mind at all. In their own way, they made the perfect pair.”
