The latest assessment of mammal populations in South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho reveals important trends for conservation decision-making and research. In contrast, three species have been downlisted, showing an improved status. On January 21, EWT released the latest Regional Mammal Red List at its conservation campus in Midrand.
Dr Tamanna Patel, a science officer at EWT, noted that 24% of mammal species are poorly protected, or not protected at all, highlighting the urgent need for more protected areas to enhance their conservation. “The main threats we identified include climate change and severe weather, habitat loss due to agriculture, and the illegal harvesting and trapping of wildlife,” said Patel. “There are numerous threats facing endangered species, which are key takeaways from the mammal red list.
While 60% of mammal species are classified as of least concern, 20% are threatened with extinction, falling into the vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered categories,” she added. Additionally, 7% of our mammals are classified as data deficient, indicating that we lack sufficient information to determine their status, necessitating further research into these species. “We also require more research focused on climate change and population genetics, along with increased sampling and monitoring of mammals, especially in protected areas and forests.
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These are vital knowledge gaps that we need to address moving forward,” said Patel. Notably, the thick-tailed bushbaby (Otolemur crassicaudatus) has been uplisted from least concern to near threatened due to increasing pressures from agriculture, urban development, and emerging threats like linear infrastructure development and climate change. In contrast, Hartmann’s mountain zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae) has been downlisted from vulnerable to near threatened due to a genuine increase in its population, surpassing the threshold for the vulnerable category.
Out of the 336 species assessed, 67 are endemic to the region, with 42% of these endemic mammals facing threats of extinction. This makes the region fully responsible for their protection and survival.
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