The beautiful African antelope known as Beatragus hunteri or hirola is now on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's list of critically endangered species.

Two cheetah cubs chase an Impala fawn caught by their mother to teach them how to hunt at the Masai Mara game reserve, April 26, 2008. The cubs eventually killed the fawn. Picture taken April 26, 2008. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti (KENYA)

The hirola, referred to as a "living fossil" by the global conservation initiative called The EDGE of Existence, is extremely rare and is the only survivor of the genus Beatragus. According to National Geographic, recent estimates show that there are less than four hundred hirolas alive today. As in the case of other critically endangered African antelopes, the near-extinction of the hirolas has been attributed to a variety of factors like climate change, habitat loss, trophy hunting and predation.

To avert the impending extinction of these African antelopes, a plan was developed to construct a sanctuary that would allow the hirolas to replenish their numbers. Spearheaded by a group of Somalians called the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy, the conservation effort also led to the construction of a fence to protect the hirolas from predators like lions and wild dogs. Similarly, another conservation effort involved the construction of the Tsavo East National Park by the Kenya Wildlife Service. Both of these construction plans involved the translocation of the hirolas from their natural habitat. Outside Africa, assistance has come in the form of financial support and research from the Zoological Society of London.

These conservation efforts have not proved to be easy. Although these plans and other attempts to save the hirola began several years ago, failure to successfully breed hirolas in captivity and poaching attempts have hindered conservation efforts considerably. It has also been said that the hirolas may not stay long in the sanctuaries due to their habit of selective grazing and the small size of the available pastures.

The success of these efforts will come from the teamwork of the conservationists as well as the support from local and international coommunities. In the end, only time can tell if these conservation efforts will save the hirola. Otherwise, this might be the last generation to see a hirola, be it in the wild or in captivity.