Angola's giant sable antelopes, which have not been seen for 31 years, have been photographed in the country's dense southern forest by a team of Angolan and South African scientists.

The giant sable is Angola's national symbol and features on its currency, postage stamps and the tailfins of the national airline's planes. It has majestic arched horns, often more than 152cm (60 inches) long.

The antelopes were feared to have become extinct during Angola's 30-year civil war when they were shot for meat. They were last seen in 1974. An intensive search in 2000 failed to find any trace of them.

But now an infrared camera installed by Angolan wildlife scientist Pedro Vaz Pinto has photographed a small herd of female sable. Two of the sables were pregnant and others were nursing new calves.

"This is indisputable photographic confirmation of the continued existence of the giant sable," Jeremy Anderson, a team member, told the South African Sunday Independent. The rare antelopes were found in the Luando Reserve, an abandoned game park about 500km (310 miles) southeast of the capital, Luanda. The remote park fell into disuse during Angola's civil war and is now accessible only on foot or by helicopter.

Scientists from Luanda University worked with a South African wildlife group who used microlight planes to fly at low altitude over the dense forest. Angolan air force helicopters flew the team and two microlights into the wilderness area.

- Owen, 12:45 PM | |