Bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus

Bongo
©http://www.awf.org/

The western or lowland bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus, is a herbivorous, mostly nocturnal forest ungulate
and among the largest of the African forest antelope species.

Bongos are characterised by a striking reddish-brown coat, black and white markings, white-yellow stripes and long slightly
spiralled horns. Indeed, bongos are the only Tragelaphid in which both sexes have horns. Bongos have a complex social
interaction and are found in African dense forest mosaics.

The lowland bongo faces an ongoing population decline and the IUCN Antelope Specialist Group considers the
western or lowland bongo, T. eurycerus eurycerus, to be Near Threatened on the conservation status scale.



The eastern or mountain bongo, T. eurycerus isaaci, of Kenya has a coat even more vibrant than that of
T. eurycerus eurycerus. The mountain bongo is only found in the wild in one remote region of central Kenya.
The mountain bongo is classified by the IUCN Antelope Specialist Group as Critically Endangered with more
specimens in captivity than in the wild.

Bongos are one of the largest of the forest antelopes. In addition to the deep chestnut colour of their coats,
they have bright white stripes on their sides to help camouflage them from their enemies.

Adults of both sexes are similar in size. Adult height is about 1.1 to 1.3 m at the shoulder and length is
2.15 to 3.15 m , including a tail of 45–65 cm . Females weigh approximately 150–235 kg,
while males weigh approximately 220–405 kg . Its large size puts it as the third largest in the Bovidae tribe
of Strepsicerotini; behind both the Common and Greater Eland by about 300 kg , and above the Greater Kudu
by about 40 kg

Both sexes have heavy spiral horns—those of the male are longer and more massive.
All bongos in captivity are from the isolated Aberdare Mountains of central Kenya.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bongo_(antelope)


Greater kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros

© Photo Des & Jen Bartlett, National Geographic, March 1983
Greater kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Lesser Kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis


imberbis-1.jpg
Lesser kudu


Lesser kudus in habitat
Granada Wild, c/o ITN Source, London
http://www.arkive.org



spekei-1.jpg


spekei-2.jpg


Giant Eland, Taurotragus derbianus


Eland
The two types of eland in Africa include the giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus) of western and
Central Africa and the smaller Cape eland (Taurotragus oryx) in East Africa. The giant eland,
now in grave danger of extinction, can weigh up to a ton.
© www.awf.org


Eland
Photographer: Kenneth M. Gale, http://www.forestryimages.org/


oryx-1m.jpg

Roan Antelope, Hippotragus equinus


roan Hippotragus equinus


roan Hippotragus equinus


Sabel, Hippotragus niger


Sabel, Hippotragus niger
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Scimitar-horned oryx, Oryx dammah

Scimitar-horned oryx, Oryx dammah Source: UICN Press Release - 06 February 2009

Status justification: There has been no definite evidence of the survival of this species in the wild for more than 15 years. Sporadic reports of animals sighted in Niger and Chad have never been substantiated, despite extensive surveys dedicated to detection of Sahelo-Saharan antelopes carried out in Chad and Niger in 2001-2004. A global captive breeding programme was initiated in the 1960s. In 2005 there were at least 1,550 captive animals held in managed breeding programmes around the world. In addition, a large number, probably >4,000 are kept in a private collection in the United Arab Emirates. Additional animals are likely held on private game ranches in the USA. As part of planned reintroduction projects, animals have been released into fenced protected areas in Tunisia , Morocco, Reintroduction is currently also planned at a site in Niger. Source: UICN Press Release - 06 February 2009 - One fourth of antelope species are threatened with extinction in the world

Eritrea Oryx, Beisa, Oryx gazella beisa


Beisa Oryx (Oryx gazella beisa), side view, Samburu National Reserve, Kenya.
Common Beisa Oryx (Oryx beisa beisa) found in steppe and semi-desert throughout the Horn of Africa
and north of the Tana River
Photo:ChrisHodgesUK
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Addax, Addax nasomaculatus

Addax, Addax nasomaculatus

The Saharan bovid species, Addax, Addax nasomaculatus, at highest risk of extinction in the near future Listed as Critically Endangered as the species is believed to have undergone a decline well exceeding 80% over the past three generations (21 years). The total population is estimated at less than 300 individuals across the range, with the majority of the population in the Termit/Tin Toumma region of Niger. The population continues to decline due to ongoing threats of hunting and habitat loss. It is protected under national legislation in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria; in Libya and Egypt hunting of all gazelles is forbidden by law. Addax have been reintroduced to fenced sectors of protected areas in Tunisia (Bou Hedma NP) and Morocco (Souss-Massa: 70 animals released 1994-97, increased to c. 550 by 2007). The first reintroduction in the wild is underway in Jebil National Park, Tunisia, in the Great Eastern Erg and another is planned in southern Morocco. There are over 600 Addax in Europe, Libya (Sabratha), Egypt (Giza Zoo), North America, Japan and Australia in managed breeding programmes, and at least 1,000 more individuals are held in private collections and ranches in the United States and the Middle East. Source: UICN Press Release - 06 February 2009 - One fourth of antelope species are threatened with extinction in the world