Sable antelopes are among Africa's most striking large mammals, with welfare in southern African savannas increasingly threatened by drought cycles that destroy the quality grass habitat these animals require.
Sable antelope welfare is acutely affected by drought cycles that degrade grass quality below the nutritional threshold needed for maintaining body condition. Water-dependent antelopes in drought years must choose between remaining near water with degraded vegetation or moving to better grazing at distances their physiology cannot sustain. Individual welfare during drought manifests as progressive body condition loss, reduced immune function, and vulnerability to predation and disease. Reserve management that maintains water points and prevents overgrazing protects individual welfare by maintaining the habitat quality sable require.