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In earlier times, when large populations of springbok roamed the [[Kalahari desert]] and [[Karoo]], millions of migrating springbok formed herds hundreds of kilometres long that could take several days to pass a town.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Great Hunters | year=1974 | last=Haresnape |first=G.|isbn=978-0-360-00232-6|publisher=[[Purnell and Sons]]}}</ref> These mass treks, known as ''trekbokking'' in Afrikaans, took place during long periods of drought. Herds could efficiently retrace their paths to their territories after long migrations.<ref name=kingdon/> ''Trekbokking'' is still observed occasionally in [[Botswana]], though on a much smaller scale than earlier.<ref name=estes/><ref name=child>{{cite journal|last1=Child|first1=G.|last2=Le Riche|first2=J.D.|title=Recent springbok treks (mass movements) in southwestern Botswana|journal=Mammalia|year=1969|volume=33|issue=3|pages=499–504|doi=10.1515/mamm.1969.33.3.499|s2cid=83613809}}</ref>
Springbok often go into bouts of repeated high leaps of up to {{cvt|2|m}} into the air – a practice known as [[pronking]] (derived from the Afrikaans ''pronk'', "to show off") or stotting.<ref name=Cain2004/> In pronking, the springbok performs multiple leaps into the air in a stiff-legged posture, with the back bowed and the white flap lifted. When the male shows off his strength to attract a mate, or to ward off predators, he starts off in a stiff-legged trot, leaping into the air with an arched back every few paces and lifting the flap along his back. Lifting the flap causes the long white hairs under the tail to stand up in a conspicuous fan shape, which in turn emits a strong scent of sweat.<ref name=Bigalke1972>{{cite journal | last= Bigalke |first= R.C. | year = 1972 | title = Observations on the behaviour and feeding habits of the springbok ''Antidorcas marsupialis'' | journal = [[African Zoology|Zoologica Africana]] | volume = 7 | issue = 1 | url=http://hdl.handle.net/10499/AJ19390 | pages = 333–359 | doi=10.1080/00445096.1972.11447448|hdl= 10499/AJ19390 | doi-access = free }} {{open access}}</ref> Although the exact cause of this behaviour is unknown, springbok exhibit this activity when they are nervous or otherwise excited. The most accepted theory for pronking is that it is a method to raise alarm against a potential predator or confuse it, or to get a better view of a concealed predator; it may also be used for [[Display (zoology)|display]].
Springbok are very [[Fastest animals|fast]] antelopes, clocked at {{cvt|88|km/h|mph}}. They generally tend to be ignored by carnivores unless they are breeding.<ref name=richard>{{cite book|last1=Richard|first1=W.|last2=Milton|first2=S.J.|last3=Dean|first3=J.|title=The Karoo: Ecological Patterns and Processes|url=https://archive.org/details/karooecologicalp00dean|url-access=limited|date=1999|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge, UK|isbn=978-0-521-12687-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/karooecologicalp00dean/page/n184 159]}}</ref> [[Cheetah]]s, [[lion]]s, [[leopard]]s, [[spotted hyena]]s, [[African wild dog|wild dogs]], [[caracal]]s, [[Nile crocodile|crocodiles]] and [[Southern African rock python|pythons]] are major predators of the springbok. [[Southern African wildcat]]s, [[black-backed jackal]]s, [[Verreaux's Eagle]]s, [[martial eagle]]s, and [[tawny eagle]]s target juveniles.<ref name=Cain2004/> Springbok are generally quiet animals, though they may make occasional low-pitched bellows as a greeting and high-pitched snorts when alarmed.<ref name=Bigalke1972/>
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