Fresh Hope for Critically Endangered Giant Sable Antelope of Angola

There is new hope on the horizon for the critically endangered Giant Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger variani) of Angola. Fewer than 100 of these iconic animals that are revered by locals are believed to exist, a sequel to Angola's 27-year civil war.

Now a new breeding program to save the species from extinction has just been launched. After painstaking six years of monitoring and tracking, scientists at the Catholic University of Angola in Luanda have finally managed to capture 10 purebred antelopes, which will form the core of am ambitious breeding program. The project is still in its infancy and has a long way to go.

Giant Sable Antelopes live in herds of 10 - 30 individuals Giant Sable Antelopes prefer wooded savanna and tall grass near water sources. They stand around 120 - 140 centimeters at the shoulder and weigh between 200 and 270 kilograms. They are herbivores and feed on grass, leaves and herbs and have a preference for those that grow on termite mounds. After a gestation period of around 9 months, the female gives birth to a single young. The young are weaned around 8 months and becomes sexually mature between 2 and 3 years. The life span of a Giant Sable Antelope is around 17 years.