21 March 2008, 10:21
bwanajcjAny one ever taken a Hirola (hunters hartebeest)
Just curious if any of the long time safari hunters have ever taken one of these? Also known as the "four-eyed antelope" because of the preorbital glands. They would be an interesting trophy. Only one exists in captivity (Brownsville Texas of all places) and the population has dwindled to 400, inhabiting northern Kenya and the Somalia border.
I am almost sure there will never be a viable hunting population again (not in my lifetime anyway).
21 March 2008, 11:25
Safari-HuntDamn, ugly critter looks like a cross between an impala and a lichtenstein hartebeest. First time I hear or see any info on one of these.
Thanx.
21 March 2008, 18:33
TootallRudolf Sand wrote about his hunting one of these in the book African Hunter 2 , pages 321 to 323. He took his by special permit in Kenya after the hunting ban. Good story and an interesting animal.
21 March 2008, 22:20
kayakerIan Goss in KZN had a set of Hirola horns which I believe his grandfather shot in kenya. they would confuse the shite out of PH exminees! The horns look like a hybrid impala/blesbuck
The Hirola is actually not a hartebeest, more like a Blesbuck and it was clasified as a Damaliscus spceies once, but no more.
They are however all sub-family Alcelaphinae.
21 March 2008, 23:13
FrostbitFour eyes is about right. That thing looks like it has reading glasses on.

22 March 2008, 01:49
madabulaI have seen and worked on several old mounts.
This seems to be the updated info on this interesting creature;
Hunter's AntelopeThere was appearently some past interest in trying to save the species but nothing seems to indicate a current major effort;
quote:
International Zoo Yearbook
Vol. 15 Issue 1 Page 166 January 1975
Some notes on the breeding of Hunter's antelope in captivity
JOSEF JANECFK
If it goes the way of the many millions of the Darwinian identified "genetic experiments" there may be some solice in knowing it was named after an individual not on our collective behalf!
Best Regards
Mike O
22 March 2008, 10:07
graybirdquote:
Originally posted by Safari-Hunt:
looks like a cross between an impala and a lichtenstein hartebeest
Exactly what I was thinking!!