Hartebeests

While hartebeests once occupied a large area over much of the African continent, their range has diminished because of expanded farming in some of the areas they had once inhabited. Since domestic cattle graze on the same grasses that hartebeests prefer, the growth in cattle raising in Africa has resulted in a general decline in hartebeest populations. The most numerous species is the Kongoni or Coke's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buscelaphus cokei) of Kenya, while the Cape hartebeest (A. caagma) survives in protection on farms. The bastard hartebeests (Damaliscus) are smaller than the Alcelaphus species, and include the topi (D. korrigum) of East Africa and the sassaby (D. lunatus) of South Africa.

Particularly vulnerable has been the hirola, or Hunter's hartebeest. In a five year period from 1973 to 1978, the hirola population in Kenya declined from 10,000 to a little over 2,000. The bubal hartebeest (Alcelaphus buscelaphus buscelaphus) became extinct in 1940 and in 1969 the Lake Nakuru hartebeest was lost to the continent. The Swayne's hartebeest was abundant in the early part of this century and is now considered the most vulnerable to extinction. The kaama has been rescued, replenished on farms and in game parks, and released again on natural ranges.

In addition to the competition for land, hartebeests face threats from predators. They are particularly vulnerable to lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas. Young animals are also vulnerable to attacks from jackals, pythons, and eagles. Hartebeests get their name from the South-African, Dutch-derived language of Afrikaans. It means "tough beast." The early Dutch settlers of South Africa found them to be good runners that could not be easily overtaken by a horse.