The post From 16,000 to 500 — Can the Ghost of the Horn Be Saved? appeared first on A-Z Animals.
The hirola is an animal many people outside of Kenya have not heard of. The truth of the matter is, not many in Kenya have heard of the antelope either. Because of this lack of awareness, it has been difficult to save the 'ghost of the Horn' from extinction, even though the hirola is Africa's most endangered antelope.
World Hirola Day falls on August 12. It is a day to raise awareness of the plight of the hirola, of which there are just a few hundred left. World Hirola Day intentionally coincides with World Elephant Day. Not only have elephants become symbols of conservation for endangered animals, but hirola also depend on elephants for their survival.
World Hirola Day is an opportunity to learn more about the antelope that is the last of its genus and what can be done to save it. If action is not taken now, conservationists are concerned that there will be no hirola left to save in the near future.
When species go extinct, there is no bringing them back. The hirola is on the verge of that happening, with the IUCN classifying the antelope as "critically endangered." If the hirola goes extinct, not only will the species disappear, but the entire genus will be lost as well.
First documented in 1888, the hirola was once a common antelope in both Kenya and Somalia, with ranges of over 111,000 and 127,000 square miles, respectively. Today, that range is significantly smaller, with less than 750 square miles in Kenya and an unknown range in Somalia due to conflict and war.
Significant decreases in territory, along with other external pressures, have led to a decline in the hirola population. While no population estimates are available from the late 1800s or even the early 1900s, in the 1960s through the late 1970s, there were an estimated 15,000+ hirola in Kenya and Somalia. By the early 2000s, fewer than 500 remained. Today's estimate has not changed.
Unlike other species on the brink of extinction, captive breeding programs are not possible for the hirola. The species does not fare well in captivity. Therefore, if the hirola are to be saved, it will have to be in controlled environments within their historic range. Whether this is possible is a question even the most optimistic conservationists struggle with.
There are other antelope species in the world, but none are quite as unique as the hirola. From their looks to their lineage, no other in the Bovidae family compares.
The hirola is often referred to as a "living fossil." As a result of being the only living member of the Beatragus genus, if the hirola were to go extinct, an evolutionary branch that also once included a larger hirola, Beatragus antiquus, would be lost forever. Consequently, the nickname persists.
Hirola are exceptionally distinct in appearance compared to other antelopes, which adds to their uniqueness. Also known as the "four-eyed antelope," the hirola has a set of pre-orbital glands beneath its eyes. These glands are used to mark their territory and to communicate with other hirola. This has become especially important as the overall territory for the hirola has decreased, and with it, grazing land.
The hirola is a medium-sized antelope. Both male and female hirola have horns, and they can weigh up to 260 pounds. The copper coloration of the hirola's coat and the white markings around its eyes help it blend into the grassland habitats where it lives.
Today, the hirola population is only a fraction of what it once was. This decline did not happen over centuries. Instead, it took just several decades to turn the hirola from a thriving antelope population into a critically endangered species.
In 1979, there were an estimated 16,000 hirola. In less than five decades, that number slipped to fewer than 500. The causes of the massive population loss include:
Competition with livestock for resources
The hirola are much better protected today than they were in the past. Unfortunately, with the devastating population loss suffered toward the end of the 20th century and into the early 21st century, the future of the hirola remains in the balance.
By some estimates, there could be as few as 20 hirola left on the planet in 50 years. This is because many of the threats that have led to the hirola becoming critically endangered remain today.
Some of the biggest threats that the hirola continue to face include:
Other threats, such as habitat degradation and loss, also play a large role in the hirola's decline. While some of this is tied to competition with livestock, the loss of elephants from poaching is related to the loss of hirola grazing land. This is because elephants help maintain the grasslands that hirola rely on.
When elephants were poached to the point of regional extinction, trees quickly took over the grasslands. These trees choked out the grasses that hirola depend on for food, leaving them with little to eat and forcing them to search for new pastureland or face starvation.
Today, with the return of elephants in Kenya, grasslands are slowly returning. Continuing this restoration will be crucial for the survival of the hirola.
Given how few wild hirola remain, the only way to ensure these unique antelope have a future is through conservation programs. However, unlike other conservation programs that use captive breeding, this approach is not possible for the hirola. There are no hirola housed in zoos simply because they do not do well in captivity. All conservation efforts for the hirola take place in their native Kenya.
In 1964, conservationists sensed the hirola population was in danger of being eradicated. A small group of approximately 20 hirola was relocated to Tsavo East National Park for conservation. The work to save the hirola began in earnest, however, in 2012. At that time, the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy fenced off 6,000 acres in an effort to save a breeding herd of 48 hirola. The efforts paid off, and by 2020, the herd increased to 140 hirola.
As the herd grew, males began fighting due to limited territory. To remedy this, a select group of 57 male hirola was collared. With the help of the Kenya Wildlife Service, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and the Northern Rangelands Trust, the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy released the male hirola.
Some of the males eventually joined smaller wild herds. Some came back to the conservancy. Two, unfortunately, were the victims of predation.
Since then, with the help of the Rainforest Trust, over 1.2 million acres have been established as animal reserves in Kenya along the Somali border. The goal is to continue monitoring the hirola as its population grows. Ultimately, all of the aforementioned organizations would like to see the hirola population reach 1,000 individuals. This will ensure genetic diversity and allow for further growth of the species.
With fewer than 500 hirola left, these antelope face an uphill battle for survival. But with the help of anti-poaching patrols and local pastoralists, as well as expanded protected territory, the hirola are in a better position than they have been in for decades to keep from going extinct.
The post From 16,000 to 500 — Can the Ghost of the Horn Be Saved? appeared first on A-Z Animals.