Hunter's Antelope
Beatragus hunteri
The Hirola (Beatragus hunteri) is one of the world’s rarest antelope species and is classified as Critically Endangered. Historically, the species occurred across the grasslands of northeastern Kenya and southwestern Somalia, including the wider Lag Badana–Bushbushle National Park landscape.
Although historical records indicate that hirola were part of the park’s wildlife, there is currently no recent scientific survey confirming the size of the population in Lag Badana–Bushbushle National Park. Comprehensive wildlife surveys are urgently needed to determine whether remnant populations still survive in the area.
Globally, fewer than 500 hirola are believed to remain in the wild, making the species one of Africa’s most threatened large mammals. Major threats include habitat degradation, prolonged drought, disease, predation, and human activities.
Protecting and restoring the habitats of Lag Badana–Bushbushle National Park could play an important role in the long-term conservation of this unique antelope and other endangered wildlife native to southern Somalia.
