Giant Sable Antelope Spotted At Luiana Park


Angola Press Agency (Luanda)

February 12, 2005
Posted to the web February 14, 2005

Luanda

A specimen of the Angolan rare and extinction-feared giant sable antelope is said to have been spotted recently by a forest specialist and a "Rádio Nacional de Angola" (RNA) journalist at Luiana wildlife park in south-eastern Kuando-Kubango province.

The provincial director of the Kuando-Kubango Forest Development Institute, Francisco Dala, said he saw the black antelope during an air trip over the Luiana park.


"In an adult size, totally black and with its curved horns, it was the giant sable antelope," he stressed, seconded by the RNA journalist.

According to the source, the Luiana wildlife park has been recording a massive return of specimens of the Angolan fauna that had migrated to neighbouring countries due to armed conflict that devastated the country.

"Today, with a control work, such specimens as zebras, hippopotamus, giraffes, elephants and others rare species, can be spotted in the park," he said.


The region where the antelope is said to have been spotted is near the border with the neighbouring Republic of Namibia, far away from the animal's traditional habitat, the Cangandala National Park, in northern Malanje province.

Between September and October 2004, an expedition that included South African specialists, representatives of the Malanje Government and Kissama Foundation, visited the region and could only find light vestiges of the animal.

There was an article, a few months ago in SCI I believe, about the possible return of the Giant Sable to Angola. Good news, such magnificent animal.

Did journalist forget to take his camera !!

Peter

Cuando Cubango river flows into the Caprivi strip, there are pockets in Angola where the game is doing ok but there are areas as we all know where the game has dissapeared