Today's animal of the day is the Hirola (Beatragus hunteri)!
Photo credit: gurveena on iNaturalist
Also known as Hunter's antelope, this critically endangered species of antelope is found only in the arid grasslands and woodlands of just a tiny part of Kenya along the Somalian border. They are the only living member of the genus Beatragus, and are named after a British big game hunter named (funnily enough) H. C. V. Hunter in 1888, who collected the first specimens of the species. They are a medium-sized antelope with tawny colored fur and white bellies, ears, and tails. They also have patches of white fur around both of their eyes, which are connected by a white bar. This makes them look like they're wearing little glasses, which, when paired with the… let's say unique way that some antelopes' heads are shaped, makes them look pretty silly, and I love them for it. At least they're not as stupid-looking as the Lelwel hartebeest.
Photo credit: Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová
These antelope feed primarily on grass, though during the dry season when their normal food source is scarce, they've been known to supplement their diet by browsing on bushes and small trees. Female and young male hirola can be found either in small, often temporary, herds or by themselves. Females will form slightly longer lasting herds to raise their young in, but will venture off on their own when it's time for them to give birth. They'll rejoin the group after the newborn has had some time to bond with their mother. These herds will sometimes graze alongside other types of animals such as oryx, zebras, and Grant's gazelles, though they tend to avoid larger animals like cape buffalo and elephants, as well as similar-sized herbivores that feed on the same type of grass as them. Usually, they prefer shorter grasses, while animals like zebras prefer their grass to be longer. So, by grazing alongside zebra herds, they can make sure they're the first ones to get to the shorter grass once the zebras have mowed it down to the right height. They've also been known to graze in pastures where livestock have been for the same reason, though they seem to avoid interacting with the cows, goats, and sheep directly.
Photo credit: janaohrner on iNaturalist
Adult males prefer to stay in the same territory and will mark their preferred grazing patch by pooping along the border, stamping down vegetation with their hooves, scraping the ground with their horns, as well as by marking trees and rocks with a secretion they make from special glands on their heads. The males will defend their territories from any other adult males in the hopes that any females who pass by will want to mate with them. Sadly, due to the low population of this species, males have begun to abandon their territories and instead will just follow around herds of females, since they weren't attracting any mates by just staying put.
Photo credit: Royle Safaris
The exact cause for the hirola's decline isn't known, though it's likely due to a variety of reasons such as diseases, overhunting, habitat loss, extreme droughts brought on by climate change, and competition with livestock over food and water. They're considered one of the rarest antelopes in Africa, with only between 300 and 500 individuals left in the wild and none in captivity. The Kenyan government also doesn't seem to be doing a lot to help conserve this species. A sanctuary was set up for them at the Arawale National Reserve in 1973, but it hasn't been maintained since the 1980's. Thankfully, some local communities in the region have come together to establish the Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy, and in 2014 an 8.9 sq mi sanctuary was created for a herd of around 48 hirola. A predator-proof fence was created around this sanctuary as a way to keep out both natural predators and poachers too.
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