Black-faced Impala
Encyclopedia
The Black-faced Impala (Aepyceros melampus petersi) is a subspecies of the impala
native to Angola
and Namibia
. It is not hard to tell it apart from common impala, being significantly larger with a black facial marking. It is also found in separate locations. While the species as whole is never endangered, this subspecies had come close to extinction. In 1968 - 1971 310 individuals were transferred to Etosha National Park for better protection, and its number is steadily increasing. However, the current population is still less than 1,000 and interbreeding with the common impala from nearby farms is damaging to the gene pool.
Impala
An impala is a medium-sized African antelope. The name impala comes from the Zulu language meaning "gazelle"...
native to Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. It is not hard to tell it apart from common impala, being significantly larger with a black facial marking. It is also found in separate locations. While the species as whole is never endangered, this subspecies had come close to extinction. In 1968 - 1971 310 individuals were transferred to Etosha National Park for better protection, and its number is steadily increasing. However, the current population is still less than 1,000 and interbreeding with the common impala from nearby farms is damaging to the gene pool.