Roan Antelope

Scientific Name: Hippotragus equinus

The Hippotraginae family of “horse antelopes” includes several species which are often large bodied antelope with neck manes, long tails, and long legs for running and fleeing.   The roan antelope’s horse comparison also includes brown to reddish-tan hair color like a roan horse, and thus the name.  Not common anywhere in Africa, the roan antelope lives in small herds near permanent water sources where they browse on grasses, plants, leaves, and seed pods.  They are one of the largest antelope (up to 750 lbs) and are renowned for their strength and aggressive defense of their herds and calves, even against lions.

The Conservation Center has maintained a significant herd and breeding program for the roan antelope since 1978.  This species can be challenging to manage in captivity due to their size and potential for herd aggression and occasional health problems such as parasites.  The climate, space, and facility at White Oak suit the roan very well and they are thriving.

Wild populations of roan antelope are declining in some regions of Africa.  In 1996 the Conservation Center sent a group of young roan born at White Oak to South Africa where they were reintroduced to parks where roan antelope populations have been depleted.  There is continuing interest to introduce roan into protected areas in southern and eastern Africa and the Conservation Center is considering this potential.