COLLECTA 2016: WILDLIFE - Hirola Antelope (88757)

This is my pride and joy folks – the one species I have wanted to see made for a very long time.  I never thought the day would come when this animal would be made but I was able to persuade CollectA in a way which I am about to explain.

But first I hope many of you are happy to see this model.  It is the rarest antelope on earth and the rarest animal in the top 10 of rarest animals in the world (Saola may pip this to the post).  The pose of this animal is modelled on a stuffed specimen in an American Museum (You will be able to see a picture of this if you google it). It is a male and female standing together but I cannot remember the name of the museum.

Firstly of all antelopes that CollectA has made we have not yet had one from the specific group of hartebeests and relatives.  I suggested Hirola some years back but held back whilst other more easily recognised species were created.  Hirola was planned for last year but was kept on the reserve list.  

A supplier has requested an Impala so my first reaction was, why not Hirola – no one has made one before, it is the rarest antelope on earth, it is unique and would also stand in as a representative of the Hartebeest family (the Bubals). Secondly, if you study Hirola carefully it is similar to an impala in body shape, coat colour and more importantly the horns.  This was then the opportunity to swap Impala for a Hirola because of their similarity.  If an Impala was made then we would never have a Hirola made for many years due to their similarity -  this is understandable from a saleability view.  The average consumer will just see these as the same.

So in essence it came down to Impala or Hirola, impala or Hirola....I mean what are the chances of another brand making an Impala compared to a Hirola? Very high! Hence why this choice with CollectA. Most people have seen an Impala and we are bound to get one from a major brand soon anyway but a Hirola? No chance!

Anyway, here it is in all its splendour and it is a personal highlight for me from the collection.


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I am so excited about this antelope. Great model and good choice of species!

All I can say is: WOW
Thank you so much for doing this!

Absolutly the next must have!!

The epic final of Collecta

Another absolute beauty... stunning and awe-inspiring figure. Collecta are the best there is, and each and every year they go for gold, and win it spectacularly by delivering the awesomeness !

Very cool

Very very nice !!

Thank you Numaan you helped us to these wonderful model of one of the most amazing antelopes on earth.

Several years ago I could see the last one hold in Zoo. But it wasn't in good shape, very old and not good looking, so thats why it was kept behind the scenes for many years until it died in 2003. It was not easy to make pictures from the female, because she was very disturbed in her behaviour.

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It is a shame, most people don't know of the existence of a"Hirola" and that it is one of the most endangered mammal on the world-more rare than Tiger,Panda and Gorilla...

Thanks for sharing these pictures, they are quite sad really and reminds us how precious so many of these 'unknown' animals are. I hope CollectA's version goes in some way to bring greater attention to this wonderful animal.

For me this and the Chiru are the truly unusual antelope species in the CollectA collection and also very endangered.

Numaan, have all the 2016 collectA animals been announced? I thought Rogerio said something about a new monkey as well?

weaselfan93 wrote:

Numaan, have all the 2016 collectA animals been announced? I thought Rogerio said something about a new monkey as well?

Hi, yes all models announced. No more. I did warn everyone at the beginning that it would be a smaller selection than usual but that is it folks....

Numaan wrote:

weaselfan93 wrote:

Numaan, have all the 2016 collectA animals been announced? I thought Rogerio said something about a new monkey as well?

Hi, yes all models announced.  No more.  I did warn everyone at the beginning that it would be a smaller selection than usual but that is it folks....

Perhaps not as many as usual, - but I am so totally happy
And I also think it is perfect for my bank account , because I WANT THEM ALL    

we got the Saola, The Chiru and now the Hirola....and Im sure every year a rare species ..for us collectors they are treasures and for kids a blessed education of our planet's inhabitants.. such a magnifico choice and thank you Numaan

JamesPanda wrote:

we got the Saola, The Chiru and now the Hirola....and Im sure every year a rare species ..for us collectors they are treasures and for kids a blessed education of our planet's inhabitants.. such a magnifico choice and thank you Numaan

Fantastic wonderful it is, in my zoo on!
Collecta I like your politics!
For a saiga I have all my time!

A Hirola! This is great news!! Fantastic antelope

Numaan, I loved reading your introduction and no doubts you're a very astute person. A customer wanted an impala and you turned it in a hirola, that's genial!
You're absolutly right, if there aren't many impalas in this topic it is just a kind of aberration of that industry, impalas are very known and popular antelopes, they are even more graceful than hirolas.
Hirolas are almost unknown and the chance of seeing it released in toy shape was close to zero.
They're really very similar and there's a related antelope in CollectA range although it is quite different... the white-tailed gnu.
Tremendous group of figures to CollectA this year again, I am very impressed and excited! Thanks Numaan!


About monkeys, I love to try to guess some things but this comment was based in a Numaan's comment about the Diana's monkey where I suspected that CollectA was releasing two more apes. Orangutan could be one and I thought there was another.
This time I don't have any tips to 2017 although I will read everything again! Though, I suspect adulte Peruvian Paso and a Gypsy vanner are being released.

lucky luke wrote:

JamesPanda wrote:

we got the Saola, The Chiru and now the Hirola....and Im sure every year a rare species ..for us collectors they are treasures and for kids a blessed education of our planet's inhabitants.. such a magnifico choice and thank you Numaan

Fantastic wonderful it is, in my zoo on!          
Collecta I like your politics!    
For a saiga I have all my time!

Yes Luc Im sure we will get more ..I forgot the Black Buck, and Oryx Scimitar !! CollectA has been making these rare Antelopes and more !!
I have a dream to open my zoo one day for teaching children from the rural areas and slums in city who would never get chance to see them even on internet or books... Like a traveling museum across India !! Just a crazy idea but i wud love to do it for the kids to know and see these beautiful planet friends of ours.

Numaan wrote:

Hi, yes all models announced.  No more.  I did warn everyone at the beginning that it would be a smaller selection than usual but that is it folks....

I would be happy with a so small selection of gems every years

JamesPanda wrote:

we got the Saola, The Chiru and now the Hirola....and Im sure every year a rare species ..for us collectors they are treasures and for kids a blessed education of our planet's inhabitants.. such a magnifico choice and thank you Numaan

I agree... Who was talking about or even heard of Chiru ans Saola except our small tribe? And who talkes and thought about an Hirola except... Numaan

Roger wrote:

Numaan, I loved reading your introduction and no doubts you're a very astute person. A customer wanted an impala and you turned it in a hirola, that's genial!
You're absolutly right, if there aren't many impalas in this topic it is just a kind of aberration of that industry, impalas are very known and popular antelopes, they are even more graceful than hirolas.
Hirolas are almost unknown and the chance of seeing it released in toy shape was close to zero.
They're really very similar and there's a related antelope in CollectA range although it is quite different... the white-tailed gnu.
Tremendous group of figures to CollectA this year again, I am very impressed and excited! Thanks Numaan!

Yes, our Numaan is a very clever man indeed

JamesPanda wrote:

I have a dream to open my zoo one day for teaching children from the rural areas and slums in city who would never get chance to see them even on internet or books... Like a traveling museum across India !! Just a crazy idea but i wud love to do it for the kids to know and see these beautiful planet friends of ours.

It is a fantastic idea James, you are a very generous panda

Congratulations for you, Numaan, and Collecta. An unique model, made with talent , persistence and courage. It shall me in my ark as soon as possible!

Kikimalou wrote:

JamesPanda wrote:

I have a dream to open my zoo one day for teaching children from the rural areas and slums in city who would never get chance to see them even on internet or books... Like a traveling museum across India !! Just a crazy idea but i wud love to do it for the kids to know and see these beautiful planet friends of ours.

It is a fantastic idea James, you are a very generous panda

Thank You Christophe !! Its actually a good idea ! I have to connect with a different Non profit groups and maybe its possible !  

Very good choise of one very rare antilope. I liked him very much.

OMG !!!!!! I LOVE IT !! Collecta has made many of my dreams come true and every time I think they cannot go any further but I m always wrong! Fortunately....NEVER in my life I could even imagine to have an HIROLA in my private menagerie...thank you!!

JamesPanda wrote:

I have a dream to open my zoo one day for teaching children from the rural areas and slums in city who would never get chance to see them even on internet or books... Like a traveling museum across India !! Just a crazy idea but i wud love to do it for the kids to know and see these beautiful planet friends of ours.

Yes, indeed ! You are a wonderful person with a wonderful dream, - I hope it come true

Wonderful and rare antelope... and wonderful model!
Thank you Numaan!