The sable antelope (or Hippotragus niger) is a species of ungulate that lives in South-Eastern Africa, where they graze and browse on the savannah, preferring lightly wooded areas to completely open ones.
They have long, notched horns that curve backwards from their face, a tan-to-black coat with a white underbelly, chin and throat, as well as white tear-marks on their face.
Males are larger, darker and have longer horns than females. Males stand between 1.17m and 1.4m tall at the shoulder, weigh 210kg to 260kg and grow horns from 0.81m to 1.65m long, while females reach a height of 0.95m to 1.12m, weight of 200kg to 240kg, and have 0.61m to 1.02m long horns.
The sable antelope is a social herd species and in the wild live in two two types of groups: in breeding groups of related females, their young, and one unrelated dominant male; or in bachelor herds of young males who have not yet acquired a harem of females.
Enrichments
Food-Based Enrichments
Grazing Ball Feeder
Barrel Feeder - Hanging
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Barrel Feeder - Large
Melon Feeder
Scarecrow Feeder
Habitat Enrichments
Grab Ball
Large Ball
Rubbing Pillar
Plant Screen
Mud Bath
Conservation Topics
Savannah Ecosystem Ambience
Diurnal Behavior
Habitat Loss
Poaching and the Exotic Pet Trade
Herbivore Diet
Mammal Evolution
Sable Antelope Fact Sheet
Walking Animals
The Animal Kingdom Talk
Sable Antelope Name Plate
Lifecycle
The sable antelope is a social herd species and in the wild live in two two types of groups: in breeding groups of related females, their young, and one unrelated dominant male; or in bachelor herds of young males who have not yet acquired a harem of females.
During the mating season from May to July, the dominant male sable antelope in a herd will mate with all receptive females on his territory.
8 to 9 months after, a pregnant female will leave her herd to give birth in isolation, with the newborn calf remaining hidden for the first 4 weeks of its life. After this period, it will rejoin the group to forage and graze and will be fully weaned at 8 months old.
Sable antelopes are sexually mature at 18 months, but they are unlikely to reproduce until much older. Females remain with their mother's group and likely have their first calf at 2.5 years old, whereas males will be ousted from their family at approximately 3 years old, at which point they will join a bachelor herd of other young males. At around 5 or 6 years of age males will leave to establish their own territory attempt to join a female herd as the dominant bull.
Statistics
Litter Size
1-1
Gestation / Incubation Period
8 months
Interbirth Period
3 months
Reproduction Difficulty
Easy
Age Of Sexual Sterility
Death
Age Of Sexual Maturity
1 years
Juvenile1.5 years
Adult13.5 years
Elderly7 years
Animal Facts
The females have strong hierarchies within their herd, with the dominant female being the strongest, healthiest individual. They are also hostile towards new female group members.
In the wild, sable antelope chew bones to gain minerals from them.
Sable antelope get darker as they get older. The darkness of the coat often indicates seniority of group members, with alpha females and males being dark brown to black in color.
Young males will often play fight as practice and older males will challenge each other by butting heads and pushing each other with their horns, but fights rarely become violent.
Sable antelopes do not always flee from predators but stand their ground, often attacking with their horns. They have been known to kill lions.
Conservation
The sable antelope is considered of Least Concern on a species level, however, the giant sable antelope subspecies of Angola is Critically Endangered. They are threatened by habitat loss and competition with livestock. As savannah landscapes are converted for agriculture or fragmented for infrastructure, sable antelopes lose access to their feeding grounds. Additionally, poaching for meat and trophies can affect populations locally. Prolonged droughts intensify pressure especially on the giant sable antelope, whose sources of low-hanging browse are lost in the long stretches without water.
Protected areas and wildlife reserves have been established and expanded to ensure herds have secure habitats where they can forage, breed and migrate naturally. Anti-poaching patrols and improved law enforcement have helped reduce illegal hunting. Monitoring data informs land management decision, and community-based initiatives also play a growing role in sustainable land use and an interest to protect wildlife.
Native Range
Africa
Statistics
Wild Population
50,000 - 60,000
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Valid Reserves
Great Rift Valley Reserve
Tanzania Reserve
Valid Release Group Types
Mixed Group
Male Bachelor Herd
Female Bachelor Herd
Are you ready to run a zoo?
Prove your knowledge and create a personalised certificate endorsed by the Fauna & Ecosystems Network for the Sable Antelope.
Planet Zoo 2 is in active development and the Zoopedia reflects this work in progress. Text, images, stats etc. are not necessarily final and may change or be expanded upon.
Grazing Ball Feeder
Barrel Feeder - Hanging
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Barrel Feeder - Large
Melon Feeder
Scarecrow Feeder
Grab Ball
Large Ball
Rubbing Pillar
Plant Screen
Mud Bath
