African antelopes 'could become extinct' as humans hunt them for meat and cut into their habitats with roads

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Once-abundant antelopes are now at risk of extinction as they are hunted for meat, a shocking report into species at risk warned yesterday. The report warned that five kinds of antelope in Africa face being wiped out, along with billions of ash trees. The annual Red List of Threatened Species report warns of plants and wildlife in danger.

Produced by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the report said the antelopes are on the brink of extinction as humans increasingly hunt them in Africa for meat and cut into their habitats with roads and houses, as well as hunting.

The five African antelopes, included the giant eland, mountain reedbuck, Heuglin’s gazelle, southern leche and grey rhebok, has worsened, the report said. The grey rhebok is the animal from which the ‘Reebok’ sports brand is named.

David Mallon, Co-Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Antelope Specialist Group said: ‘Antelopes have been declining as human populations continue to grow, clearing land for agriculture, unsustainably harvesting bushmeat, expanding their settlements, extracting resources and building new roads.’