Quarter of antelopes under threat
04/03/2009 13:51 - (SA)


Oslo - A quarter of the world's antelope species is under threat of extinction due to hunting and human damage to their habitats from the Sahara to Tibet, a study showed on Wednesday.
The South African springbok was the only antelope whose numbers were rising, bucking a dwindling or at best stable trend for all the 91 types of gazelles and other antelopes worldwide.
Twenty-five of 91 antelope species, or about a quarter, were rated "endangered" in a review by experts for the "Red List" of threatened species run by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
"The status of several species has become worse since the last complete assessment of all antelopes in 1996," it said in a statement. The IUCN groups governments, scientists and conservation organisations.
"Unsustainable harvesting, whether for food or traditional medicine, and human encroachment on their habitat are the main threats," said Philippe Chardonnet, co-chair of the antelope specialist group of the IUCN.
Scimitar-horned oryx
"Most antelopes are in developing countries which is why it's critically important that we collaborate with local communities there since it is in their own interest to help preserve these animals," he said in a statement.
In the worst case, the scimitar-horned oryx was rated extinct in the wild despite some unconfirmed reports of wild animals in Niger and Chad. Several thousand oryx are in captivity, with plans to reintroduce them the wild.
Populations of antelopes - ranging from the Tibetan gazelle to the silver dik dik in east Africa - were falling for 62% of species, stable for 31% and rising only for one - the springbok.
The status of the other six percent was uncertain. The springbok has been helped by good management of the species, it said. The antelope is prized for its meat and many are raised in ranches.
The study adds to an IUCN study last year that estimated a quarter of all mammals, from elephants to shrews, were under threat.
Addax
A rising human population is putting strains on nature. In many countries, farmers are converting spare land to crops while cities and roads are encroaching more on grasslands. Climate change is adding to problems.
The report said the addax, a large Saharan antelope, was among those most at risk with an 80% plunge in numbers over the past two decades.
"The total population is estimated at less than 300 individuals," with most in Niger, the report said.
The saiga antelope in Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia was most threatened in Asia. Its numbers have crashed to about 50 000 from 1.2 million three decades ago.
- Reuters

Well what the Fuck is so supprising. When the animials greatest value is for food is it any wonder they are slaughtered. I am sure the greatest decline is in countries where hunting is forbidden and thus the lower value of the animial. If these people would get their heads out of their asses things would be much better.

It's the reference to hunting as being the problem, that I don't like. It's poaching that's the problem, not hunting. But, as with all anti-hunting rhetoric, it's hunting that takes the blame.

UEG- I agree. Give an opinionated ignoramus with an agenda a pen and a medium, and, voila: Conjecture becomes "fact". Time after time, in nations around the world, we see that when the inmates are allowed to run the asylum, it all goes to hell in handcart. Hearing this knee-jerk blame placed on hunting is getting boring, and the simple facts refute it.