In the remote woodlands of the Central Angolan plateau, a pristine region characterized by broadleaf semi-deciduous forests (the Angolan miombo), extensive floodplains and peculiar grasslands dominated by termite mounds, lives a special and almost mythological creature: the giant sable antelope.

The adult male with its typical coal-black (female and young are brown-reddish) color and carrying long curved horns that can reach 65 inches in length, is often considered the most magnificent antelope that ever lived. For obvious reasons the giant sable was chosen as the national symbol of Angola, featuring in the national currency, the national soccer team is known as palancas (the sables), and is present in the logo of TAAG, the national airliner. And yes, you can also find it in the logo of the US-Angola chamber of commerce! Its rarity, elusiveness, and the fact that local villagers granted this beast a totem status, helped keeping the giant sable unknown to the western world for centuries. But it is yet surprising that only as late as 1909 the giant sable was discovered by Frank Varian, a Belgian Engineer working for the Benguela railroad, and in 1916 officially described as a new subspecies of sable – Hippotragus niger variani.

Soon after its discovery, it was relentlessly targeted by museums and ambitious trophy hunters, and protective laws were implemented as early as in the 1920’s. Hunting of the animal would only be allowed for scientific purposes and under a special permit. In 1933 the giant sable was granted the higher conservation status (Class A) by the international convention for the protection of African fauna and flora, and in 1938 the Santuário da Palanca Real (Royal Sable Sanctuary) was proclaimed, covering approximately 8,000 square km between the Kwanza and the Luando Rivers in the Malanje district. This area contained all known populations of giant sable and was subsequently upgraded in 1955 as the Luando Strict Reserve. Following the discovery of a small sable population 30km south of Malanje town, a second area of roughly 600 square km – Cangandala Nature Reserve was proclaimed in 1963, and later upgraded as National Park in 1970.

By then, the giant sable was finally being actively protected and well studied. Dr. Richard Estes spent a full year studying the giant sable in Luando Reserve, and its total population was then estimated to be somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 animals.

The situation changed dramatically when civil war erupted and spread into the giant sable region. Since the early 80s, both reserves became a no man’s land, witnessing a bloody conflict between humans, when wildlife conservation ceased to be a priority for obvious reasons. Until peace finally came in 2002, very little was known regarding the status of the giant sable populations, other than worrying reports stating generalized wildlife poaching to feed hungry troops in the reserves, and more or less reliable witnesses reporting occasional sable sightings. Intermittent attempts to reach the reserves and locate surviving herds of giant sable since 2000 gave inconsistent and disappointing results, and until very recently the world was preparing to admit that this magnificent beast had been lost forever.

		In 2003 the Research Centre of the Catholic University of Angola, launched the Giant Sable Conservation Project. With its initial objective set at proving that the animal had survived the civil war, it has since evolved to become a success story and presently it is the leading wildlife conservation initiative in the country. The first attempts to locate and rediscover the beast included long tracking expeditions and aerial surveys to both reserves using military choppers and microlights, but the sought after proof that the animals were still there was only achieved in February 2005 when the project published 16 photos of a giant sable female herd, the first photos taken in more than 20 years! The photos were obtained in Cangandala NP by trap cameras triggered by infra-red beams that had been placed since October 2004 near natural salt licks, areas where local herbivores were known to visit regularly.
Sable herd in Cangandala National Park
However, this success wouldn’t have been possible without the active contribution of local community members who had been recruited as research assistants and informal law enforcement agents. They are called the giant sable shepherds, following an ancient local tradition of protecting this sacred animal. The shepherds were given uniforms, equipment and a monthly salary and they are proudly assisting researchers and authorities in Cangandala NP.
Giant sable shepherds at Cangandala Nature Park.

Recently the University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Angolan Government, and the shepherd’s role has been officially recognized as law enforcement agents. This is particularly relevant, because until now the Government hasn’t been able to implement effective management practices in the country’s protected areas. Following the MOU, an administrator was appointed to Cangandala NP, equipment was purchased and funds have been secured to rehabilitate the park’s infrastructure. The same sable herd, possibly the last surviving herd in Cangandala, is being tracked and protected on a regular basis and video footage was obtained in the end of 2006, again from trap cameras. This is the first footage known since the seventies!
	Footage taken of sable herd using tracking system.

In 2007 it is expected to dart and equip sables with GPS and VHF collars, which will allow us to keep track of the animals constantly in Cangandala. Nevertheless, the biggest challenge will be to extend the conservation measures into the Luando Strict Reserve, where given its much bigger area size and remoteness, we expect to have quite a few more herds left. New shepherds will be hired and trained, and a management structure will be put in place.

The giant sable conservation project has been receiving wide support from Angolan and foreign organizations, individuals and Government. Corporate sponsorship was granted by Esso – Angola, and further support was given by Chevron and by the Angola-LNG Project. In May 2006, the project received from the hands of Princess Anne one of the prestigious Whitley Awards for nature, in a ceremony held at the Royal Geographical Society in London.

Pedro Vaz Pinto is Director of the Giant Black Sable Conservation Project and senior researcher at the Center for Scientific Research of the Catholic University of Angola. In 2005, Pinto and his collaborators obtained the first still photos of the Giant Black Sable previously feared to have become extinct during the war years. Pinto received one of the highly prestigious Whitley awards in London in May 2006 for his work on this project.

For those who are interested in learning more about the giant sable and its history, John Frederick Walker's " a Certain Curve of Horn", provides a detailed and well written account.