Giant Eland - Threats and Conservation

Threats and Conservation

The major threats to the western giant eland population are overhunting for its rich meat and habitat destruction caused by the expansion of human and livestock populations. The eastern giant eland is also depleting for similar reasons, and natural causes like continued droughts and competition from domestic animals are contributing to the reduction in numbers. Populations of the eastern giant eland had already gone down due to the rinderpest attacks. The situation was worse during World War II and other civil wars and political conflicts that harmed their natural habitats.

The giant eland is already extinct in Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Togo. The western giant eland was once reported in Togo, but is believed to have been confused with the Bongo (Tragalephaus eurycerus). In 1970, it was reported eliminated in Uganda, during military operations. Its presence is uncertain in Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria.

Today the western giant eland is conserved in the Niokolo Koba National Park and the Faheme Hunting Zone in Senegal. Field studies have proved that the Niokolo Koba National Park is ecologically suitable for the giant eland. As observed in the 2000 census of the Park, the number of deaths in a decade were only 90 to 150. The eastern giant eland is conserved in the Faro National Park, Benoue National Park, Bouba Njida National Park, Bamingui-Bangoran National Park and Manovo-Gounda-St Floris National Park. They are bred in captivity in the Bandia Reserve (Senegal) and Fathala Reserve (Senegal).