AFRICAN INDABA

16    Angola – Palanca Negra (Royal Sable)

Pedro vaz Pinto

Pedro vaz Pinto sent another report. Here are extracts: The trap camera record since mid-December 2010 (Photos 51 – 86; https://picasaweb.google.com/113384424565470443034/PalancaReportFirstSemester2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCJq8-8ydnIeYkAE#) showed lots of interesting stuff, and confirmed that the hybrid group was in good condition and stood together. But the real surprise came from outside the fences, where one isolated pure sable female showed up. Subsequently it became obvious that she was the lost female, Joana. She had managed to escape from Sanctuary 1 a year ago without a trace! At least she wasn’t dead. Interesting to note that she had been the first female caught in 2009 and she is also a confirmed mother of hybrid (DNA proved that she fostered “Judas” in 2004). A romantic soul might be tempted to believe that she went back in search of her true and only love… the roan bull! Surely not… but let’s hope we don’t find her soon raising a new hybrid! In later trips we managed to track down and see the pure herd, and thus confirm that the sable bull (Photos 22, 23) was as tame as ever and looking strong and healthy, and the radio collar was indeed dead. But the best news came from the trap camera placed inside the sanctuary: we had a third calf. The previous two were growing healthy, and it was now possible to determine the sex of the calves. They were male – female – male, on this order. Three calves (and only one female born) in one and a half years of breeding is no doubt a poor result, but 2011 is still going and once we enlarge the sanctuary we expect the breeding success to improve significantly. We also found the skeleton of the injured female Palanca Negra, which probably succumbed to its injuries.

Editor’s Note: On August 30^th African Indaba received another direct report from vaz Pinto with photos (two are reproduced here). Tthe news from Angola is getting better, despite some worrying information about poaching – Pedro told me about a new giant sable capture/survey operation between July 26^th and August 20^th and the following details:
 

1. We found four giant sable herds numbering about 50 animals in total. These herds included calves, yearlings, two-year olds and mature cows, plus one territorial bull with each group;

2. We found many evidence of poaching, from bush meat racks in bush camps, to active snare lines, to animals showing signs of having just survived leg injuries caused by snare traps;

3. 8 sable (one mature bull, one 2-year old male, three 2-year old females and three yearling females) were captured and  translocated to Cangandala NP, as new breeding group;

4. Presumably all the hybrids in Cangandala were captured and handled. The males were castrated;

5. Because few animals have survived and poaching is still recognized as a huge threat, the herds are now being closely and permanently monitored both remotely and with a small team on the ground. The Angolan military are also joining the efforts and conducting anti-poaching initiatives in Luando.

African Indaba has followed the Palanca Negra story from the beginning. You can read all on-line in the African Indaba archives (www.africanindaba.co.za)