Poaching is by far the main threat, and it comes in different ways. In terms of organization and ultimate purpose the most prevalent is commercially driven as part of organized bushmeat trade. Most poachers come from neighbouring regions and Provinces and set camps for several days or weeks, where the animals are killed, and the meat smoked and dried locally and eventually exported in bags motor bikes. Some poaching is also related to illegal diamond digging operations along the Cuanza River. Finally, there is also poaching done by local villagers to complement subsistence diets. In terms of methods, we deal with the widespread use of cable foot snares and gin traps, which are placed around water holes or recently burned grazing patches. Trapping is mostly conducted during the dry season, between May and October. In addition, the use of firearms is also widespread. Poachers will chase game, often with help of dogs during the day, or at night with spotlight. It is not uncommon for commercial poachers to combine both the use of intensive snaring and night incursions with firearms. In recent years, the use of automatic weapons has diminished, but shotguns are still widespread. Poaching with firearms is done all-year-round, and especially intensive during the first few months of rainy season, between October and December. Overall, the most worrying type of poaching because of the proven catastrophic effect on the giant sable population, is commercial poaching resorting to the use of foot snares and gin traps around water holes in the dry season. About 20% of all existing animals, show injuries caused by snares, and sometimes include amputated legs. We have found that young breeding cows and yearlings are the most vulnerable animals t this type of poaching.