Mammals · Artiodactyla · Bovidae
Hirola
Beatragus hunteri
It faces an extremely high risk of imminent extinction in the wild. See full glossary
The hirola, Hunter's antelope or Hunter's hartebeest is an artiodactyl mammal of the subfamily Alcelaphinae. It is the only species in its genus and no subspecies are recognised. The hirola is critically endangered and is found along the border between Kenya and Somalia. It is the only living member of the genus Beatragus. The world population of hirola is estimated at 300-500 animals, there are no hirola in captivity, and the wild population continues to decline. According to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, "the loss of the hirola would be the first extinction of a mammalian genus on mainland Africa in modern human history".
Weight
70 kg – 120 kg
Size
1.2 m – 2 m
Lifespan
10 years
Diet
Herbivore
Feeds mainly on plants.
Activity
Crepuscular
Active above all at dawn and dusk.
Sighting difficulty
Very hard
Estimated population
Between 300 and 500 individuals
Fun facts
- It is the only living representative of its genus, Beatragus: if it goes, what is lost is not just a species but an entire lineage of antelopes.
- There is not a single hirola in any zoo in the world: every attempt to keep it in captivity has failed, so its conservation depends entirely on what happens in the field.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
- Habitat & environment
- Arid grassland with scattered acacias on the border between Kenya and Somalia
- Sexual maturity
- 21.4 months
- Gestation / incubation
- 9.3 months
- Litter / clutch size
- 1
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatragus_hunteri
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Hirola — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Klipspringer
Oreotragus oreotragus
Kirk's Dik-dik
Madoqua kirkii
Hartebeest
Alcelaphus buselaphus
Beisa Oryx
Oryx beisa
Near ThreatenedGerenuk
Litocranius walleri
How to help
The hirola is classified as critically endangered. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 1 real protected area — part of why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about hirola.
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