The critically endangered antelope that is the only living member of genus Beatragus is the hirola.
The hirola is also called Hunter’s hartebeest or Hunter’s antelope, and its scientific name is Beatragus hunteri. It survives naturally in a narrow region of eastern Africa along the Kenya–Somalia border. Its separation from related antelopes has been debated, but genetic, anatomical and behavioural evidence supports placing it in its own genus.
The genus Beatragus was once more widespread, and fossil species have been found in several parts of Africa. The living hirola is therefore the last surviving representative of an ancient lineage. Its disappearance would not merely remove a species; conservationists have warned that it could represent the loss of an entire mammalian genus from mainland Africa.
Hirola numbers have fallen because of habitat degradation, drought, disease and predation, leaving only a few hundred animals in the wild. The species is not maintained in captivity, making protection of its remaining grassland habitat especially important. It is easily confused with hartebeest relatives because of its common name, but it is taxonomically distinct.