Roan Antelope

Hippotragus equinus

General Description

Scientific Name: Hippotragus equinus

Subspecies: 6 subspecies

East African Roan (H. e. baker)
Central African Roan (H. e. cottoni)
Southern roan (H. e. equinus)
Western Roan (H. e. koba)
Kenyan Roan (H. e. langheldi)
Nigerian Roan (H. e. scharicus)

Status: Least Concern (decreasing)

Population Estimate: 50,000-60,000

Population in Assessed Areas: 200

Diet: Herbivore - grasses & herbs

Male Size: 242-320 Kgs

Female Size: 220-280 Kgs

Trophy Size: 62.5 cm minimum (SCI)

Generation Length: 7.5 years

Reproductive Season: February to March

Time of Activity: Diurnal

Description: The roan antelope is a large antelope with a horse-like build. It is the largest antelope in the genus Hippotragus, and one of the largest species of antelopes in the world. Only elands, bongos and large male greater kudus can exceed them in weight on average. The roan antelope stands 135–160 centimetres (53–63 in) at the shoulder, and weighs 230–320 kilograms (510–710 pounds). The head-and-body length is typically between 235 and 285 centimetres (93 and 112 inches). The dark tail, terminating in a black tuft, measures up to 54 cm (21 in).

Characteristic features include a short, erect mane of grayish brown hair extending from the back of the neck along the midline of the back up to the withers, white patches around the eyes and the mouth on the otherwise black face, and long, narrow ears with 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) long tufts. The horns are ringed and arched backwards, which can reach 100 cm (39 in) long in males, slightly shorter in females. The long legs are supported by large hooves. The short, smooth coat is brown to amber. The ventral parts are yellow to white, while the neck and the manes are gray to black. They are somewhat similar in appearance to the sable antelopes and can be confused where their ranges overlap. Sable antelope males are notably darker, being brownish-black rather than dark brown.

Ecology: Roan antelopes can be found in woodland, grassland, and savannah habitats; with a preference for tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome. They occupy habitats that range in tree density from forest with a grassy understory (such as the central Zambezian Miombo woodlands) to grasslands dotted with few trees, where they eat mid-length grasses. It isa generally adaptable species that tolerates the disturbance of other larger species (such as buffalo & elephants) and may actually benefit from the understory clearing that elephant herds create.

Behavior: small groups and form harem groups of 5 to 15 animals with one dominant male, females & their young. Bachelor males are commonly found in small groups, usually under 5 individuals and on occasion older males can be found alone. Males commonly fight among themselves for dominance of their herd, brandishing their horns while both animals are on their knees, similar to how their closest relative, the sable antelope, fights as well

Predation: . Lions are likely their only common predator, though leopards, spotted hyenas, wild dogs and cheetahs may opportunistically take calves or infirm adults on occasion. Nile Crocodiles may also take roan antelope on occasion, around rivers & lakes.

roan-hippotragus-equinus-male-leaving-the-waterhole-.webp

Conservation Analysis

Current & Historic range: The Roan Antelope formerly occurred very widely in the savanna woodlands and grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa, but has been eliminated from large parts of its former range. The species remains locally common in West and Central Africa, while in East and southern Africa, the traditional antelope strongholds, the species is now more rare. The species is now locally extinct in Burundi, Eritrea and possibly Gambia. It was also eliminated from Swaziland and later reintroduced to the privately owned Mkhaya Nature Reserve.

It's range in South Africa and Namibia has expanded greatly, with a considerable number of individuals existing on high-fence properties in regions like the Eastern Cape, a region where they did not exist in historical times. In some was though, they fill an ecological niche similar to their extinct relative, the Bluebuck, so these introductions could be classified as an example of pleistocene rewilding.

Current & Historic Populations: According to East (1999), there is a estimated total population of 76,000, with the largest populations in Burkina Faso (>7,370), Cameroon (>6,070), Zambia (>5,080) and Tanzania (>4,310). Spinney (1996) commented that Roan Antelopes in Sudan survived locally in relatively stable numbers. During recent surveys conducted during the dry season of South Sudan, only 21 individuals were counted in Southern N.P., with a small group sighted in the Jonglei and two other sightings in Boma N.P. These population estimates do not include populations on high fence properties in South Africa, so the overall number could be around 5-10% higher.

Despite the fact that Roan are generally common in West and Central Africa, some populations are in decline, such as that in Comoé N.P. where numbers have declined by about 70% between 1978 and 1998 to around 500 animals (Fischer and Linsenmair 2001).In Tanzania, Foley et al. (2014) estimated 1,000-1,500 in the Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem, 1,200 in Ugalla and Moyowosi GRs and around Lake Sagara, and c. 450 in the Katavi-Rungwa ecosystem. Rare in the Serengeti. Overall declining slowly in Tanzania.

Density estimates are summarized by East (1999) and Chardonnet and Crosmary (2013). Overall population trend is generally stable or decreasing in protected areas and decreasing elsewhere, apart from the small numbers on private land in southern Africa which are increasing.

Threats to Species Survival: Roan Antelope has been eliminated from large parts of its former range because of poaching and loss of habitat to the expansion of settlement and agriculture, for example cotton farming (Chardonnet and Crosmary 2013). It now survives mainly in and around protected areas and in other areas with low densities of people and livestock. Its persistence in West Africa is probably due to its ability to withstand illegal hunting pressures better than many other large herbivores, especially the more water dependant and more sedentary species which are more exposed to poaching (East 1999, Chardonnet and Crosmary 2013).

Different explanations have been provided for the decline of Roan and its lack of subsequent recovery in the Kruger N.P. in South Africa, 450 animals in 1986 to around 30 in 2001. The most likely reason is increased predation pressure by Lions, following the influx of grazers following construction of artificial waterpoints). Overpopulation of Elephants also likely contributed to this decline, by decreasing the amount of ideal habitat fit for Roan populations. Illegal hunting probably contributed to the decline of the Roan Antelope in Masai Mara N.R. in Kenya in the 1970s (Hofer et al. 1996).

Map of Roan Antelope Distribution

Roan Antelope Population Data

Country	Population Estimate	Population Status	Last Assessed
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Uganda
Tanzania
South Sudan
Rwanda
Nigeria
Mozambique
Malawi
Kenya
Gabon
Equatorial Guinea
Democratic Republic of Congo
Central African Republic
Cameroon
Angola
South Africa

*Further data on Roan Antelope populations and harvest numbers outside of South Africa and Namibia are largely incomplete, and hence it has not been evaluated by us. It is our goal to expand into other African Nations soon, so please do be patient with us.

Recommended Conservation Actions:

Further resource and manage protected areas where Roan Antelope exist.
Encourage the implementation of economic incentives that allow landowners to profit off the presence of healthy roan population, wether that be through hunting or ecotourism.
Further investigate why population decreases in areas like Kruger National Park, and seek to rectify those issues through population control of other species if need be.
Improve survey methods to get accurate population data, such as implementing long-term monitoring programs.

Economic & Cultral Analysis

Ecotourism Value: Moderate-high

Hunting Value: Very High

Meat Value: High

Average Trophy Value: $5,500 -7,000 USD

Meat Yield per Animal: 90-110 kg

Economic Value/Impacts: In some regions, particularly rural area, Roan Antelope and other wildlife species serve as a source of protein and sustenance for local communities. In many areas, a demand for such forms of illegally sourced bushmeat were so strong that populations were pushed to the brink of extirpation.

Roan are somewhat valuable to the ecotourism industry, being an animal that many visitors aim to see on their trip. They can be difficult to see at times, due to their shy nature, relatively low population density, and tendency to inhabit areas with thick woody vegetation.

In the hunting industry, they are one of the most valuable plains game species. Ever since the colonization of Africa in the 16th century, they've been a prized quarry for hunters around the world, likely due to their impressive horn & body size. Particularly in South Africa, this has been positive. Landowners are incentivized to keep breeding populations of this species, and only harvest small percentages of mature trophy bulls.

Cultural Value: Roan Antelope have been pursued as prey by hunter gatherer tribes thousands of years. Due to their relative rarity compared to other species of ungulates inhabiting the same habitats, they were likely never a staple species.

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