I have (As you probably figured I would.........) Been following this thread and must admit I am surprised...I am a strong believer in the fact that one has to be open to learn something new everyday, but learning something new in my mind should be based on fact, due to our line of work (professional hunters and some true naturalists) we escort and educate and share the wonders of Africa with clients on a day to day basis and sharing factual information with our hunting friends and clients is a must.
With this being said I would like to encourage all to go through my posts on this particular thread and many others..............
To set things straight,
I have not once on this, or any other particular post/thread on this or any sight or in person put down or discouraged hunters from wanting or trying or hunting in the Eastern Cape!
(any other interpretation would be simply contributed to a lack of comprehension of what I was trying to say, or an unwillingness to understand or listen and ponder....)
I simply replied to this particular thread to provide correct information,...
due to the fact that the wrong information was being distributed/shared (not an uncommon phenomena in the Hunting industry.)
I have since been in contact with multiple references who's detail I will share below to clear up any doubts that might exist, regarding the information I have provided and the broad assumption,... that the
Eastern cape Southern Greater kudu is a sub species of the Southern Greater, which it is not.
I would like to encourage any potential hunters to feel free to hunt in the Eastern Cape as it is an awesome area to hunt and to be aware that SCI has a seperate trophy listing for Eastern Cape kudu in their (the hunters) favour, even though it has been placed under a wrong header.
As proof I will be attaching a 133 page Doctoral Thesis as conducted under the supervision of
Dr. Wouter van Hooven (Dean of the centre for Wildlife management at the University of Pretoria) as well as a additional supporting communication "quote" by
Deon Furstenburg (previously senior lecturer at the university of UPE and currently the senior wildlife scientist at ARC Irene: B.Sc Zoology & Botany, B.Sc Wildlife management, B. Sc Hons., M. Sc Wildlife management & PhD) both well educated gentlemen, and personal mentors..................
I would love to encourage all that are interested in broadening their knowledge base to read, assess,... and follow up with their own search as to whether or not what I have porvided is based on Factual research rather than hear-say.
The research conducted, was based on mtDNA (Mitochondrial DNA) testing on the entire southern Greater Kudu population in all the various regions including the Eastern Cape population.
Or Rather the
Molecular phylogeography and evolutionary history of the Southern Greater Kudu as part of the fullfilment of a PhD. and submitted to the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria. A world leader in consevation Wildlife Biology/Science research and most defenitly the Authority on African Wildlife.
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/submitted/etd-11242005-165353/unrestricted/thesis.pdf
When working with DNA one needs to understand that all of us as well as all other mamals have varying DNA my DNA is most definitly not the same as my wifes or my brothers, there are certain similarities for the most part but they are not the same(finger printed) Exactly the same goes for every individual kudu, Genetically they are the same over the broad spectrum but there are no exact fingerprints on DNA between each individual animal to the next, What one will find is similarities between animals of the same species but each and every individual (animal or human is different) Even indentical twins do not have the exact same DNA..........FACT.
I would like to quote the following paragraphs (with the Authors permission from the attached link)
and I quote:
"Four sub species have previously been described in the Greater Kudu, based on morphological features, From this study there is NO evidence to support the existence of populations, which could be viewed as Sub Species, results therefore call for a re examination of the traditionally recognised sub species."
Key phrase being,
"From this study there is NO evidence to support the existence of populations which could be viewed as Sub Species,"
In addition to this I would like to add another quote which should most definetly vanquish any doubts as far as the credibility or rather the call for the so called listing of the Eastern cape sub species are concerned.......
and I quote "Results from this study show that the populations from Namibia, Kimberly and the Eastern cape form a genetically distinct group, Although this group does not exhibit reciprocal monophyly of the mtDNA control region, efforts should be made towards preserving what appears to be a distinct evolutionary pathway. This group should certainly be regarded as a MU (management unit)"
Please note it is not stated that it should be regarded as a subspecies in fact the contrary is clearly visible from the research conducted, but rather a management unit these would include the populations from Northern Namibia and Kimberly as well as the Eastern Cape............As additional support I will attach the following:
Jaco,
You are absolutely right on the money with the Eastern Cape kudu, There are no sub-species defined for the southern greater Kudu.
Taxonomy
Classification
Class: MAMMALIA
Supercohort: LAURASIATHERIA
Cohort: FERUNGULATA
Order: RUMINANTIA
Superfamily: BOVOIDEA
Family: BOVIDAE
Sub-family: Bovinae
Tribe: Tragelaphini
Genus: Tragelaphus
Species: melampus
Kudu were first described from a specimen from the Kammiesberg, southern Namaqualand in the Cape of Good Hope and were classified in the genus Tragelaphus. Its name originates from the Hottentot or Khoi-khoi word å¾’u::du? Tragos the Greek for a he-goat and elaphos for a deer.
There are two species
the greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros
the lesser kudu Tragelaphus imberbis
The species name of the greater kudu originates from strephis, the Greek for twisting, and keras for animal horn and that of the lesser kudu from imberbis the Latin for unbearded, a reference to the absence of a mane on the throat. Three sub-species greater kudu are recognised namely
the southern greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros strepsiceros
the East African greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros bea
the northern greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros cottoni
Other closely related species are
the sitatunga Tragelaphus spekei
the bongo Tragelaphus eurycerus
the nyala Tragelaphus angasii
the mountain nyala Tragelaphus buxtoni
the bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus
the eland Tragelaphus oryx.
Of these only the southern greater kudu, the nyala, the eland and the bushbuck occur naturally in the southern sub-region of Africa.
Deon Furstenburg
Senior Wildlife Scientist
ARC-Irene
e-mail:
dfurs@mweb.co.za
cell: 072 575 3289
fax: 086 594 8761
Further more I would like to add that any person interested in any additional information regarding this subject should feel free to contact me as I am in pssession of additional research as well as additional, well educated references, which are more than willing and most defenitly able to discuss any subject on this matter and shed additional light where needed.
Once again currently there is no scientific proof/evidence that can conclude that the Eastern Cape Southern greater Kudu should be listed as a lone sub species. This was the point I was trying to get across from the onset of this thread and non other.
BTW. I also like the darker coat.
Be assured of only my ultimate best at all times.