Hirolas last stand? This Fridays endangered species article - we focus on the Hirola which is a species of antelope commonly known too as the Hunters hartebeest or Hunters antelope. The Hirola was scientifically identified as Beatragus hunteri back in 1889 by Dr Philip Lutley Sclater FRS FRGS FZS FLS (4 November 1829 – 27 June 1913). Dr Lutley was an English lawyer and zoologist. In zoology, he was an expert ornithologist, and identified the main zoogeographic regions of the world. He was Secretary of the Zoological Society of London for 42 years, from 1860–1902. There is only one single species of Hirola to exist which is listed as [critically endangered]. From 1986-1988 the species was considered to be rather rare. Conservation research then stepped up a notch of which located more data on the species. From 1990 the species was considered and re-listed as [vulnerable], then listed again in 1994 as [endangered]. From 1996-present the species was again re-listed as [critically endangered]. To date 2014 there is no fewer than one thousand individuals remaining within the wild. Hirola is native only to Somalia and Kenya of which its likely to be pushed to extinction within Somalia first due to civil strife within the war damaged and lawlessness country, habitat destruction and fragmentation plus illegal hunting of the species. Somalia doesnt really have any form of protection that could see the species preserved furthermore. The Hirola is endemic to north-east Kenya and south-west Somalia. Historical distribution is estimated to have covered ca. 17,900 km² in Kenya and ca. 20,500 km² in Somalia. In Kenya, Hirola currently occur between Garsen, Bura and Galma Galla/Kolbio over an area of ca. 8,000 km². Current status in south-west Somalia is not known, but its former range has been badly affected by prolonged civil and military conflicts that continued up to early 2007. There is a small translocated population in Tsavo East National Park, outside the species’ natural range. This originated from a translocation of 30 animals from Garissa District conducted in 1963. It is thought that most of these perished soon after release and that the size of the “effective founder population” was only 11 to 19 animals. A further 10 animals were translocated to Tsavo East in 1996. Hirola faces many threats and not all are human made. Lions, cheetah, wild dogs and hyaenas have all been documented as main predators. While the Hirola faces threats we must also remember that those species of animals that hunt the Hirola will also face further food shortages. Populations are still decreasing and have been since last assessed back in 2007. While 2012 was the last formal assessment that saw some 1400 individuals still remaining, this number has drastically declined with no fewer than 1,000 Hirola remaining within the wild. Which is kind of sad as these species of antelope have been on planet earth far longer than when Dr Philip Lutley Sclater identified the species in the late eighteen hundreds. Threats include hunting, disease, drought, habitat loss, and competition with livestock. Lack of effective protection leaves it vulnerable to poaching. The development of the cattle industry, compounded by rinderpest and drought are continuing threats. The Tsavo population additionally faces predation by relatively high densities of large carnivores and competition from a greater variety of other wild herbivore species (but much lower numbers of cattle) than in its natural range. Please help International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa by making a small or large donation to our Funding African Wildlife Survival Project - Project F.A.W.S. You can donate here via our communications site; international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk or alternatively donate here via our donate tab - https://facebook/pages/International-Animal-Rescue-Foundation-World-Action-South-Africa/199685603444685?sk=app_117708921611213 . All donations are greatly appreciated of which we thank each and everyone of you for your continued help and support this year and past. Without you we cannot continue to fund emergency wildlife operations, investigations, law enforcement, anti-poaching and support if our brother and sister organisations too. Thanks for reading and please dont forget to share. Dr Jose C. Depre Chief Environmental Officer [email protected]
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 02:21:10 +0000
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