Dear Guests

On behalf of Steve (AKA Shakari) Robinson whom has done a lot of the DONKEY work in consultaion with other esteemed [ Wildlife Experts ] and interested parties, I have consolidated the information into a single document overview of the proposed project that will be undertaken ...

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DOCUMENT #1

5 Granite Street
Peterborough, NH 03458
22 December2004

SUBJECT: GIANT SABLE CONSERVATION PROJECT PROPOSAL

To Whom It May Concern:

The Antelope Specialist Group endorses and supports (from the Giant Sable Conservation Fund) the conservation program to be implemented by the Research Centre (CEIC – Centro de Estudos e Investigação Científica) of Catholic University of Angola (UCAN).

Conservation of the giant sable has been a high priority of the ASG since its founding in 1978 and my appointment as Chairman, as my wife and I spent a year (1969/70) making a field study of this subspecies, based in the Luando Reserve. Plans to revisit the Luando Reserve and Cangandala National Park to ascertain the status of the giant sable have been ASG goals since 1982, when I was able to spend three weeks in Angola and to observe and photograph sable in Cangandala. Subsequent efforts to conduct a survey included nine days spent in Luanda in 2000 waiting to survey Cangandala and Luando, cancelled for security reasons, and the helicopter flights over the reserves and walk into Cangandala in August 2002, which confirmed that giant sable had survived the civil war.

This excellent research plan produced by Pedro Vaz Pinto can only succeed in providing adequate protection of the giant sable if the necessary funding is forthcoming. The ASG can provide only a small portion. Government and NGO organizations are therefore urged to provide generous support.

Signed,

R. D. Estes, Ph.D.
Chairman
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DOCUMENT #2

5 Granite Street
Peterborough, NH 03458, USA
12 April 2005
Jeremy Anderson,

ASG Regional Co-chair for Southern Africa
White River, RSA

Dear Jeremy,

Your idea of enlisting the support of professional hunters in the effort to safeguard the survival of the giant sable (the ASG’s logo) segues perfectly with the source of the Giant Sable Conservation Fund, namely the Utah Chapter of Safari Club International. It is a great opportunity for hunters to demonstrate, once again, that they are conservationists who want to ensure that trophy hunting of rare and endangered species is sustainable.

Donations can be made to the Giant Sable Conservation Fund through the Southern African Wildlife and Environment Conservation:

WESSA - Giant Sable
First National Bank
Acc # 52530037988
Branch # 220 725
Swift # FIRN ZA JJ.

As an additional back-up, it would be appreciated if copies of the deposit slips could be faxed or posted to you.

Wishing you every success with this important undertaking,
Dick

Richard D. Estes, PhD
Chairman

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I have actually ENHACED the quality of the pictures which were sent to me, as they were a bit darker than those which are now posted ....



Photo by Henry Warren taken ( 30 yrs ago ) who is helping Dick Estes with the project.



This is a photo of a giant sable group taken in Cangandala in Feb this year, pregnant cow closest. You can clearly see difference in that the white eye blob is totally enclosed, like a panda in reverse. The trophy sable is a great animal but with that level of curve, giant sable would be well over 50". corner of the photo.

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STEVE ROBINSON ( AKA Shakari ) will post a reply to give the guests a FULL overview of the PROJECT as I am only the geek doing the uploading to the AR forum ...

Thanking you SAEED for allowing me to publish this vital information to all those with an interest in wildlife conservation ..

Regards ..... Peter Bird in New Zealand

Peter,

Thanks for your help on this.

Everyone,

folks, if there has ever been an opportunity for hunters to prove that hunting can save a species......this is it.

I understand that SCI & other organisations are helping with the project but it will still require additional funding. So if any of you out there would like to make a donation I'm sure that the additional finances will be put to very good use.

The area concerned is very remote and the plan is to equip a small team of staff with such things as uniforms, weapons, motorcyles & radio's to protect & study the herds. If sufficient populations are properly located I personally believe that a very limited number of bulls will be allowed to be hunted within about 5 years......but first we have to prove that sustainable hunting can be successful.

If anyone out there has any questions about the project etc I'll be very happy to pass them onto Jeremy Anderson for his reply.

Steve

I wonder if there would be any consideration given to maybe ( attempt ) to capture some of the breeding stock animals and translocate them to safer and more manageble area !!!

I believe Sable per se are reasonable travellers, provuded a professional does the darting and relocation, maybe it is a longshot idea as well for including in the melting pot ???

Regards, Peter

How much bigger than a regular sable is a Giant Sable?

What are their current numbers?

The 1st pic looks huge!

Peter,

I e-mailed Jeremy with your question but haven't had an answer......I get an idea he's in China at the moment and may not have internet access......as soon as he gets back to me with his answer I'll pass it on.

Minkman

According to RW The #1 Typical Sable is 55 3/8, The EA Sable is 44 3/4 and the Giant is 64 7/8.

I believe the estimated population of the herd that was located was between 100 & 200 but I'll have to confirm that.

Peter,

Jeremy's reply is as follows:

"Steve,
After lots of consideration we all believe that the best place for the sable is where they are NOW. They have survived a war and the locals revere them. If any were moved to a breeding programme somewhere else, this would devalue efforts to conserve them in situ. Next thing that would happen is semen would be tapped off for sable elsewhere and once chaps are producing 50 inch sable on their farms near Warmbaths, there is not loner any interest in the GS."

I'll post further on the population numbers when I hear back from him.

So far they have been located in two areas (which for the time being shall remain nameless) One area has been assessed as around 200 and the other about 50.....but there is still a lot of research to be done and others may be found in other areas.

Just had a phone call from Jeremy and so far the vast majority of funding has come from hunters......amongst whom are the Dallas Safari Club, the Utah chapter of SCI and the Shikar Club in London.......but it's a very expensive operation to run as it's such a remote area. So further funding is being sought. Current costs are US$1000 a month but this is expected to rise as the project gets under way.

They are concerned about predators and will have to do something about that in the longer term.

I'll post updates as I get them