Angola antelope risks extinction
06/01/2009 15:23 - (SA)


Malange - Angola's Giant Sable Antelope, a national symbol, is threatened with extinction by poachers after barely surviving three decades of war, the head of a conservation project said.

An estimated 200 of the long-horned animals remain in Angola, about 10% of the population in 1975, when a 27-year civil war broke out after the southwest African country gained independence from Portugal. The war ended in 2002.

Pedro Vaz Pinto, the man behind the Giant Sable Conservation Project at Cangandala National Park, estimates that poaching since the war has cut the population of giant sables in the park by 50% to one herd of 10 to 15 animals.

The remaining giant sables are believed to roam around the nearby Luando reserve, where Vaz Pinto's team is beginning to bolster efforts to preserve the species.

"The numbers are so low that these animals may not sustain even occasional poaching," Pedro Vaz Pinto told Reuters in an interview.

"Poaching is now one of the greatest threats to an already dwindling population."

'National symbol'

The animals, known locally as Palanca Negra, were hunted during the war by hungry soldiers and refugees. Poachers now seek them out for bushmeat - the meat is dried before being sold in the market.

Vaz Pinto said the antelopes, which grace bank notes and the logos of the national airline and soccer team, faced an additional threat from people returning to remoter areas since the end of the war in 2002.

They have become so rare that most young people in the villages around the park, about 400km east of the capital Luanda, have never seen one.

Vaz Pinto started looking for the antelopes in 2003, tracking the notoriously shy animals on foot and by helicopter. They tend to roam in small herds of six to twelve, congregating near ponds and on grasslands.

'Time is running out'

Their speed, which can reach up to 22km/h, often enables them to elude researchers and, occasionally, poachers, who hunt the animals with assault rifles.

Many Angolans thought the antelopes had been wiped out until 2004 when Vaz Pinto took a photo of one using remote cameras triggered by an infrared beam.

He has since enlisted local shepherds who patrol for poachers and said he plans to continue to bring in more manpower and technology to help track and preserve the animals.

"Time is running out," said Vaz Pinto. "Hopefully 2009 will be a decisive year in the recovery of this national symbol."

- Reuters

This story from Pedro seems to have been Reguritated for a year or more now .....

It appears that Wildlife Organisations including the esteemed SCI dont seems to have much interest in the propagation of these wonderful animals, or if I am incorrect, whom in practice is getting in behind Pedro at this point in time, as surely this an urgent wildlife matter to follow up upon.

Does it require money, expertice, or other to get it moving.

What ideas are forthcoming from the guests

Cheers, Peter

Maybe I will be lucky enough to see one of them while working in Angola....

FWIW, One of my neighbours was involved in the first few trips to search for them and until 2 or 3 years ago, there were 3 known populations up there and rumours of at least one other herd and there was an attempt to raise finance to get some rangers organised to keep track of the populations and buy dirt bikes for them to help with that.......... I get an idea that SCI were approached for a donation, but declined for some reason.

If I remember correctly, there was some concern that some bugger might try to catch some and smuggle them across the border and get them to interbreed with the common variety and so there was an attempt for some considerable time to keep the exact locations quiet.

Here's one of the original pics that proved they hadn't all died out in the war.

Steve

I personally believe there is a better chance of the specie surviving if a few (were in fact captured and relocated) to a third party country under fail safe captivity conditions. I dont buy the arguement that they might escape and interbreed, surely there is the same chance to inter breed where they are !!

We (Bird Wildlife Estate, Kalomo Zambia) have ideal controlled facilities on our Citrus and Wildlife Estate that could possibly meet the criteria for a breeding project. If there was an approach we would talk/consider it. If you still have any existing contact or influence it might be helpful ?

As you well know we are a 100% independant family operation and not subject to multi national pressures

Cheers, Peter

Peter,

I personally agree with you that a translocation to a reputable company /could help and possibly save the species, but the concern is that they'll deliberately be crossbred with common sable for commercial reasons and in fact there have been rumours that attempts at capture have been made but failed....... I've no idea if there's any truth in those rumours.