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DNA-led rediscovery of the giant sable antelope in Angola

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Abstract

The giant sable antelope (Hippotragus niger variani), unique to Angola, was feared extinct after almost three decades of civil war. Comparisons of mitochondrial DNA sequences derived from dung samples recently collected in the field and from old museum specimens of certain provenance provide the first documented evidence to date that this enigmatic antelope has survived. Its DNA-led rediscovery in the former combat zone was subsequently confirmed by photographic evidence. The Angolan isolate constitutes a distinct monophyletic group that shows a dramatic population decline from historic levels. It represents a diagnosable conservation unit which is characterised by unique cranial morphological features (Blaine 1922 1922:317–339), a highly restricted range, and the presence of fixed genetic differences in all of its common relatives.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the Angolan Authorities for their support in conducting this research. We thank Mr. Cristóvão da Cunha, the Governor of Malange, and General Hanga of Angolan Air Force, Messrs. Werner and Wolfram Brock, Dr. Miguel Morais, Mr. Abias Huongo and all the local assistants (giant sable “shepherds”). Anke Schmidt and Dr. Joerns Fickel of the Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin, Dr. Jeremy Anderson of the IUCN Antelope Specialist Group, Michael Eustace of African Parks, Pierre van Heerden of Oracle Television, Dr Rolf Baldus of the GTZ-Tanzania Wildlife programme, Benson Kibonde, Joe Holmes, Peter Vosloo, Frits Eloff and Mr Bebecca provided assistance. The Powell-Cotton Museum (Malcolm Harman) and the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago (Dr. Bill Stanley) kindly provided access to giant sable specimens housed in their collections. This research was funded in part by UNDP and PAPS, African chapter of SCI, the Dallas Safari Club, and the South African National Research Foundation (GUN 2053617). The Angolan Air Force provided logistic support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, PF 1103, 10252, Berlin, Germany

    Christian Pitra

  2. Universidade Católica de Angola, Rua Nossa Senhora da Muxima, 29 Luanda, Angola

    Pedro VazPinto

  3. The Shikar Club, Pelsall,, Staffordshire, England, WS3, 5AG

    Brendan W. J. O’Keeffe

  4. Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    Sandi Willows-Munro, Bettine Jansen van Vuuren & Terry J. Robinson

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  1. Christian Pitra
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  2. Pedro VazPinto
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  4. Sandi Willows-Munro
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  5. Bettine Jansen van Vuuren
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  6. Terry J. Robinson
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Correspondence to Christian Pitra.

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Pitra, C., VazPinto, P., O’Keeffe, B.W.J. et al. DNA-led rediscovery of the giant sable antelope in Angola. Eur J Wildl Res 52, 145–152 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-005-0026-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-005-0026-y

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