HIROLA

HIROLA (Beatragus hunter)

EAST AFRICA NATURAL HABITAT They live in the desert scrub and grasslands where they form harems led by a dominant territorial male. They have a very small range that includes parts of Kenya and Somalia, and their numbers are in sharp decline due to poaching and habitat loss NATURAL HABITAT

Hirola life characteristics Diet - feeds on grasses and forbs They are selective feeders, only feeding on short, newly sprouted grass. They are able to go for long periods without drinking water.

Size 1.2 - 2 m (3.9 - 6.6 ft) length 10 - 60 cm (3.9 - 23.6 inches) tail 80 - 118 Kg (176 - 260 lbs) weight 3.9 to 6.6 feet

Housing & Climate Africa The preferred habitat of the Hirola is grassland plains Warm climates Herds contain from 2-40 females led by 1 territorial male but bachelor herds of five or so males are common

ENDANGERED The Hirola species of antelope is currently classed as critically endangered and has seen a gigantic drop in population over the last 30 years declining from around 14,000 to current amount of just over 600 The reason for the massive decline in population is a combination of habit loss, poaching and even natural drought

Offspring/reproducing The female will reach sexual maturity around the age of 2 or 3 males reaching sexual maturity a little later at around 4 or 5 when they are strong enough to compete with other males for the mature females mating which usually occurs around March or April female gives birth around October or November and usually only births 1 offspring

predators Predators include lions , cheetahs, African wild dogs and humans Hyenas and eagles will also prey upon young Hirola shortly after they are born

FACTS Hirola are also known as: Hunters Hartebeest Hirola are known as the "four-eyed antelope Related to the antelope known as “arawale” to the locals

What’s being done. Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) (funded by USAID and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) turned up 245 total hirolas, of which about 100 or so are within the conservancy area

QUIZ 1 Where are hirolas located? 2 What months are hirolas most likely to breed? 3 How many predators do hirolas have? 4 How many are left? 5 How many hirolas travel together if they travel together?

WORKS CITED http://www.itsnature.org/endangered/hirola/ http://www.edgeofexistence.org/mammals/species_info.php?id=37 http://www.animalinfo.org/species/artiperi/damahunt.htm