![]() ![]() Observations on the biology of giant sable were reported soon after its scientific description by Thomas ( 1916), resulting from the many expeditions undertaken to collect material for museums in Europe and the United States of America. The importance of the current unanimous recognition of the giant sable as a national symbol should not be underestimated, constituting a key factor uniting Angola’s people regardless of their different ethnic groups, religious beliefs or political ideologies, and thus contributing to social cohesion and national pride. Since Angola’s independence in 1975, its status has been reinforced. ![]() In Angola, the giant sable was the first animal to receive full legal protection and was soon embraced as an icon during colonial rule. Soon after its discovery, the giant sable was elevated to a high pedestal among the hunting community as one of the most sought after trophy prizes, and fuelled the lust of big game hunters from all over the world. Its cultural significance extends from local totemic status among resident communities (where it is known as ‘kolo’ or ‘sumbakaloko’) to global recognition as an antelope symbol and flagship for conservation. Having captured the imagination of naturalists and the general public for over one hundred years, the giant sable antelope Hippotragus niger variani is the undisputed icon of Angola’s natural heritage (Fig. The giant sable is currently the main focus of a conservation programme supervised by the Angolan Government that is successfully promoting its recovery. Park management and efficient protection was enforced in the 1960s, but these protected areas were abandoned soon after the country’s independence, leading to population crashes and interspecific hybridization, which left the subspecies on the verge of extinction. Although much pursued by hunters during the first half of the twentieth century, the conservation needs of giant sable were recognised early on, with the proclamation of two protected areas and the setting in place of strict regulations. ![]() Molecular studies have only recently made significant contributions to interpret the evolutionary history of giant sable. Past explanations for the extent of the isolation and relationships with other sable populations have been controversial. Studies on the biology of giant sable were mostly conducted in the 1970s, but ongoing efforts using modern tools such as DNA analyses, GPS tracking, camera trapping and satellite imagery are improving our knowledge. One of the last large mammals to be described in Africa, it is confined to the upper Cuanza basin, in central Angola. The giant sable antelope Hippotragus niger variani is the most widely recognised representative of Angolan biodiversity, owing to its endemic status, rarity and physical attributes. ![]()
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