GIANT ELAND

Historic Range:

• From Senegal to the Nile River

Current Status:

• Western subspecies: Critically Endangered, survives only in Senegal.
• Eastern subspecies: Vulnerable, extinct in Chad; remains in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and likely South Sudan.

Main Threats:

• Human population growth
• Climate change
• Poaching
• Competition with livestock
• Insecurity
• Lack of ecological knowledge

Giant eland, as the largest species of antelope, has the potential to act as a flagship species for the whole region of the West and Central African savanna. Its Western subspecies is listed as Critically endangered, with the only wild population in the Niokolo Koba National Park, and a semi-captive population in two fenced reserves in Senegal. 

The Eastern subspecies is listed as Vulnerable, with the current distribution representing only a fraction of the original distribution range. Besides poaching and other anthropogenic pressures, the lack of knowledge of its ecology and population dynamics has been identified as one of the major threats to the species.

GIANT ELAND CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN - SENEGAL (2026-2028)

Goal: 

• National action plan for the giant eland in Senegal developed and adopted by stakeholders.

Main activities:

• Assessment of the in situ population of giant eland
• Assessment of ex situ population of the giant eland
• Population viability analysis providing data for management decisions
• Development of the National Conservation Action Plan

GIANT ELAND CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN - CAMEROON (in preparation)

Goal:

• National action plan for the giant eland in Cameroon developed and adopted by stakeholders.

Main activities:

• Assessing spatial movements of giant eland across protected areas and hunting concessions in Northern Cameroon
• Population viability analysis
• Capacity building (staff, students, researchers)
• Nationwide survey of giant eland and strategy development

GIANT ELAND CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN - CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Goal:

• National action plan for the giant eland in Central African Republic developed and adopted by stakeholders.

Main activities:

• Data analyses and PVA workshop
• Capacity building (staff, students, researchers)
• Nationwide survey of giant eland, and strategy development