A rare
antelope that has been absent in the Mara has been spotted after a decade of
absence. The single male Roan antelope was spotted near Roan Hill, to the south
of the Masai Mara reserve this week.
“The
hill named after this antelope has reclaimed its name,” said Paul Kirui, a
Kenya Professional Gold Safari Guide. Kirui said the animal was first seen in
the central plains, and crossed the Talek River to settle among the Topi
plains.
Mara
Conservancy CEO Brian Heath said the huge number of Roan antelopes has reduced
due to poaching. He said the last one was seen in 1993 in Oloololo escarpment.
In South and Western Kenya, Roans are found in Lambwe valley, near Lake
Victoria.
The Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus)
it is one of the largest species of antelope. They measure 190–240 cm
(75–94 in) from the head to the base of tail and the tail measures
37–48 cm (15–19 in). The body mass of males is 242–300 kg
(530–660 lb) and of females is 223–280 kg (490–620 lb). The
shoulder of this species is typically around 130–140 cm (51–55 in).
Named for their roan color (a reddish brown), they have lighter underbellies,
white eyebrows and cheeks and black faces, lighter in females. They have short,
erect manes, very light beards and prominent red nostrils. The horns are ringed
and can reach a metre long in males, slightly shorter in females. They arch
backwards slightly. They are similar in appearance to sable antelope and can be
confused where their ranges overlap. Sable antelope males are darker, being
black rather than dark brown.
Roan antelope are found in woodland and grassland savanna,
mainly in the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
biome, which range in tree density from forest with a grassy understorey. They
form harem groups of five to 15 animals with a dominant male. Roan antelope
commonly fight among themselves for dominance of their herd, brandishing their
horns while both 
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