Transcript HIROLA
HIROLA HIROLA (Beatragus hunter) EAST AFRICA •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 • 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 • 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/sp ecies_info.php?id=37 • http://www.animalinfo.org/species/artiperi/d amahunt.htm