I would definitely agree that the editors of the show made little effort to detail their comments, and this only serves to hurt their credibility. You are correct in that certain species of the antelope genus Neotragus are occasionally taken by large adult gaboons. However this usually occurs with the smaller northern species and involves the larger Western Gaboon, B. g. rhinoceros. Adult Neotragus in the northern part of their range in central and west Africa don't get any larger than a house cat. Adult Neotragus in the southern area of their range, where the show was filmed, are slightly larger and would be too much for even an adult Eastern Gaboon, B. g. gabonica, however they could take a young one. It was obvious that the viper he captured was an Eastern, and he should have definitely qualified his statements.

In many areas of southern Africa where the show was filmed, the Eastern Gaboon, B. g. gabonica, is considered endangered as habitat destruction has constricted its former range considerably. I believe Gaboon populations in central and western Africa are in better condition. I agree that these details should have been made more available within the context of this episode.

Kelly

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