AFRICAN INDABA

14    The Hunting Community’s Role in the Conservation of the Giant Sable Antelope

 John Frederick Walker 

From the time of its recognition as a valid sub-species of sable in 1916, the hunting community has had a keen interest in this magnificent antelope, found only in the central highlands of Angola.  Its backward-sweeping horns, which reach 60 inches or more in adult bulls, along with its rarity, made it a highly desirable trophy animal. Frank Varian, the British railway engineer who supplied skins and horns to the Natural History Museum in London, and for whom the sub-species was named (Hippotragus niger variani), was concerned that unregulated hunting would doom this emblematic creature. He prevailed on the Portuguese colonial authorities in 1922 to declare the giant sable “royal game,” requiring special permission to hunt.  

Museum collectors were among the few that were given licenses, and the scarce specimens collected in the 1920s and 30s for natural history museums have not only impressed generations of visitors, but played an important role in recent genetic research on the sub-species. Restricting the numbers that could be hunted, along with the creation of the Luando Strict Nature Reserve and later Cangandala National Park, encompassing the giant sable’s known habitats, afforded it some protection up to the outbreak of the Angolan civil war (1975-2002). 

Although never numerous—its total population probably never exceeded 2,500, even at its peak—habitat loss rather than hunting pressure was thought to be the greatest threat to the giant sable prior to the civil war, according to biologist Richard Estes. Sadly, it now seems evident that poaching during and after the war has also been a factor in the declining population of giant sable, along with ever-increasing loss of habitat. 

Conservationists became concerned at the lack of evidence, particularly photographic, of the giant sable’s survival, and for good reason.  Most of the large mammals in Angola had been shot for food during the war, and it was feared that the giant sable may have been another casualty of the conflict. 

Hunting groups, and even individual hunters, were among the first to contribute to the effort to determine if there were any herds left.  These groups included the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation CIC, Safari Club International, Dallas Safari Club, and The Shikar Club.  Several are mentioned and their specific contributions detailed in Dr. Jeremy Anderson’s “Milestones” report (see this issue). 

Hunters knew that the outlook for the giant sable was grim, and as a consequence it might never be possible for it to be a game animal again.  But like others concerned for the fate of the national animal of Angola, they hoped it wasn’t too late to save it from extinction.  They and others who helped fund efforts to find, photograph, and conserve this iconic antelope were proved right, and as a result, the giant sable may now have a chance at survival. 

Today, hunters, biologists, conservationists, all Angolans, and indeed everyone who cares about African wildlife, can only applaud the great success of the 2009 Cangandala capture operation led by Angolan biologist Pedro Vaz Pinto.  It was the culmination of his six years of effort to develop a viable strategy to conserve the giant sable in its own habitat—and it paid off.  Those of us who care about the giant sable need to make sure Vaz Pinto’s captive breeding program gets the support it needs, so that this magnificent animal can endure. 

That goal would be a trophy we can all pursue.