IUCN 4 Mar 09;
A quarter of all antelope species are threatened with extinction, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.
The results, compiled by the Antelope Specialist Group of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission, show that out of 91 species of antelope, 25 are threatened with extinction. The status of several species has become worse since the last complete assessment of all antelopes in 1996.
“Unsustainable harvesting, whether for food or traditional medicine, and human encroachment on their habitat are the main threats facing antelopes,” says Dr Philippe Chardonnet, Co-Chair of the IUCN Antelope Specialist Group. “Most antelopes are found in developing countries which is why it’s critically important that we collaborate with local communities there since it is in their own interest to help preserve these animals.”
Five species of antelope are in the highest category of threat, Critically Endangered, including the Dama Gazelle (Nanger dama), Aders’ Duiker (Cephalophus adersi), the Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica), Hirola (Beatragus hunteri) and Addax (Addax nasomaculatus). The Scimitar Horned Oryx (Oryx dammah) is already Extinct in the Wild, but there are ongoing efforts to reintroduce it. The Dama Gazelle and Addax are both reduced to tiny remnant populations and highlight the dire situation for wildlife in the Sahelo-Saharan region.
A further nine species are in the next category of threat, Endangered, and another nine are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Nearly 70 percent of antelope species are not threatened with extinction and some areas of the world are doing better than others in terms of antelope populations. India, for example, is home to four species of antelope and only one of them is currently regarded as threatened.
“Despite the pressure of living alongside 1.2 billion people, antelopes are doing well in India,” says Dr David Mallon, Co-Chair of the IUCN Antelope Specialist Group. “It is no coincidence that there is very little tradition of hunting in India and gun ownership is rare.”
Overall, populations are stable in 31 percent of antelope species and decreasing in 62 percent of antelope species. The Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) a native of southern Africa is the only antelope species with a long-term increasing trend, mainly as a result of the game ranching industry.
To see case studies of antelope, download the report (PDF).
Quarter Of Antelopes Under Threat: Report
Alister Doyle, PlanetArk 5 Mar 09;
OSLO - A quarter of the world's antelope species is under threat of extinction due to hunting and human damage to their habitats from the Sahara to Tibet, a study showed on Wednesday.
The South African springbok was the only antelope whose numbers were rising, bucking a dwindling or at best stable trend for all the 91 types of gazelles and other antelopes worldwide.
Twenty-five of 91 antelope species, or about a quarter, were rated "endangered" in a review by experts for the "Red List" of threatened species run by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
"The status of several species has become worse since the last complete assessment of all antelopes in 1996," it said in a statement. The IUCN groups governments, scientists and conservation organizations.
"Unsustainable harvesting, whether for food or traditional medicine, and human encroachment on their habitat are the main threats," said Philippe Chardonnet, co-chair of the antelope specialist group of the IUCN.
"Most antelopes are in developing countries which is why it's critically important that we collaborate with local communities there since it is in their own interest to help preserve these animals," he said in a statement.
In the worst case, the scimitar-horned oryx was rated extinct in the wild despite some unconfirmed reports of wild animals in Niger and Chad. Several thousand oryx are in captivity, with plans to reintroduce them the wild.
DIK DIK
Populations of antelopes -- ranging from the Tibetan gazelle to the silver dik dik in east Africa -- were falling for 62 percent of species, stable for 31 percent and rising only for one -- the springbok.
The status of the other six percent was uncertain. The springbok has been helped by good management of the species, it said. The antelope is prized for its meat and many are raised in ranches.
The study adds to an IUCN study last year that estimated a quarter of all mammals, from elephants to shrews, were under threat.
A rising human population is putting strains on nature. In many countries, farmers are converting spare land to crops while cities and roads are encroaching more on grasslands. Climate change is adding to problems.
The report said the addax, a large Saharan antelope, was among those most at risk with an 80 percent plunge in numbers over the past two decades.
"The total population is estimated at less than 300 individuals," with most in Niger, the report said.
The saiga antelope in Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia was most threatened in Asia. Its numbers have crashed to about 50,000 from 1.2 million three decades ago.
(Editing by Michael Roddy)
Quarter of antelope species face extinction: IUCN
Yahoo News 4 Mar 09;
PARIS (AFP) – More than 25 percent of the world's 91 known antelope species are threatened with extinction, according to an update of the IUCN Red List, an authoritative index of threatened animal life.
The status of several antelope species has become worse since the last complete assessment, in 1996, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature said.
"Unsustainable harvesting -- whether for food or traditional medicine -- and human encroachment on their habitat are the main threats facing antelopes," said Philippe Chardonnet, director of the International Foundation for the Conservation of Wildlife.
Five species are in the highest category of threat, critically endangered: the dama gazelle, Aders? duiker, the saiga antelope, hirola and addax.
The scimitar-horned oryx is already extinct in the wild, but there are ongoing efforts to reintroduce it.
The dama gazelle and addax are both reduced to tiny remnant populations, highlighting the dire situation for wildlife in the Sahelo-Saharan region, a vast expanse of desert and savannah in northern Africa, the report said.
Nearly 70 percent of antelope species are not threatened, including some in areas densely populated by humans.
India, for example, is home to four species of antelope of which only one is classified as facing extinction.
"Despite the pressure of living alongside 1.2 billion people, antelopes are doing well in India," says Dr David Mallon, co-chair, with Chardonnet, of the IUCN Antelope Specialist Group.
"It is no coincidence that there is very little tradition of hunting in India and gun ownership is rare."
The springbok, a native of southern Africa, is the only antelope species whose numbers have increased over the long term, mainly as a result of the game ranching industry, the study found.
