Giant Sable Conservation Project
Background
The project aims to conserve the giant sable antelope (Hippotragus niger variani), within its area of origin in Central Angola through monitoring and research programmes; active conservation actions in the areas; promotion of capacity building at national and local level; supporting the resident communities through their integration into the project activities; and to create public awareness at local, national and international level.
The giant sable was only described in 1916, and it has since been praised as the most beautiful antelope in the world. In Angola it is regarded as the national symbol, displayed in the logo of the national airline company - TAAG, and the national football teams is known as “os palancas” (the sables). It is only known to occur in two areas (Luando Strict Reserve and Cangandala National Park) covering approximately 9,000 square kilometres in total. In the seventies its population was estimated to be of 2,000 animals, but following the civil war that ravaged the country the population crashed to such an extent that it was feared extinct.
The Giant Sable Conservation Project
In 2003 the Catholic University of Angola launched the Giant Sable Conservation Project to prove that the species had survived the civil war. The first attempts included long tracking expeditions on foot into Cangandala, where plenty of promising evidence was found, such as spoor, confirming reports from locals, however no sightings were made. After several further attempts it was eventually trap cameras that captured photographs of a sable herd in Cangandala NP. The project implemented the pioneering Shepherd Program, making the most of an ancient tradition of some of the local communities to protect this animal. A team of 20 shepherds were hired, given basic training, uniforms and a monthly subsidy, to become the present day guardians of the giant sable, assisting in the research and management of the species and becoming the informal law enforcement agents.
Through monitoring of the herd the project soon realised that the population was facing a crisis - hybridisation. The current giant sable population in Cangandala consists of one remaining herd comprising 14 pure sables of which 10 are females in breeding age, and seven hybrid individuals, all born in the past five years (in the photo the animal on the far left looking at the camera is a hybrid). A lack of sable bulls has meant that a lone roan antelope bull has interbred with the herd. This crisis seems to be the result of a population crash and lack of breeding males thought to be a result of intense poaching pressure in the area.
Tusk Trust Support
In order to tackle the hybridization crisis the project with support from Tusk is carrying out a tracking and immobilization programme. Funding from Tusk has enabled team to train in game immobilizing and capture operations. In 2008, assisted by game capture specialists, the sable herd will be tracked down on a daily basis until at least one animal is darted and equipped with a GPS and/or VHF collar. As soon as the first animal is carrying a collar, the team expect to track down the herd easily and dart all the hybrids and at least some of the pure sables over the rest of the year. The hybrids will be tested and handled for scientific purposes and in the end they will be sterilized and/or removed, according to available logistics and veterinarian advice.
Funding from Tusk has also enabled the project to purchase a Yamaha Rhino ATV. This vehicle is expected to be of major assistance during the darting operations, and will later be integrated into the park management equipment. The project hope to fly the ATV later in the year using an Angolan military chopper into Luando, to carry out a new expedition in this remote reserve. Hopefully this should allow the team to find a suitable giant sable herd from which a couple of bulls can be subsequently captured and translocated to Cangandala.
Comments from the field
Tusk support is aimed at very specific and important activity, which is to make possible a capture and collaring operation, addressing the remaining giant sable population in Cangandala NP. Because this action had to be postponed till July 08, much of the support has been put "on hold". So far, we have purchased a quad bike which has proved highly useful to access remote areas during the current rainy season, areas being monitored with trap cameras, and also to patrol these areas protecting it against poachers. The project coordinator has been trained in capture activities, and we have purchased the necessary equipment. We expect the impact of Tusk support to be felt very strongly within a few months time.
Donate Now!
Latest News
DEADLY TRADE: RHINO HORN POACHING SURGES. A marked increase in rhino horn poaching has been blamed on the growing Chinese population in Africa. On safari in Kenya... More ...
PACE UK RECEIVES EXCELLENT REVIEW. "The series of ten short videos give a very positive insight into the people of different parts of Africa... More ...
Upcoming Tusk Events
About Tusk
