Hirola
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| iHirola | ||||||||||||||||
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| Beatragus hunteri Sclater, 1889 |
The Hirola (Beatragus hunteri, sometimes Damaliscus hunteri also known as Hunter's Hartebeest) is found in arid grassy plains in a pocket on the border between Kenya and Somalia.
Hirola are known as the "four-eyed antelope," due to their large preorbital glands. Hirola stand 100 to 125 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh 80 to 118 kilograms. Their coat is a sandy brown colour, greyer in males than females, with a lighter underbelly and a small white strip over the bridge of the nose. The nape of the neck has very thick skin which forms ridges when the ears are pricked up. The horns are lyre shaped and very conspicuously ringed.
Hirola are found on arid, grassy plains. They are diurnal and spend the mornings and evenings grazing. Herds contain from two to forty females led by one territorial male but bachelor herds of five or so males are common. Herds do not move much as the males leading them are very territorial. When fighting seriously males drop onto their knees, but when wrestling they remain on all fours.
Hirola are critically endangered, there are between 500 and 1200 animals in the wild as well as a single female in captivity. Counts in the 1970s found around 14,000 animals and another count in the 1980s found 7000 animals. The Hirola's decline is believed to have been brought on by competition with cattle as well as the drought which has plagued the region.
[edit] References
- Antelope Specialist Group (1996). Beatragus hunteri. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Critically Endangered (CR A1a v2.3)
