Assessor: Matthew Child
This species is hunted for food and sport. Within the assessment region, Tsessebe are also sold live at auctions. They are managed for their tourist value, as well as trophy hunting, although their value as trophy animals is unknown. Private ranching and intensive breeding is increasing for this species, along with its commercial value. This is not expected to impact the population (Nel et al. 2016).
Poaching is an increasing problem in some protected areas, especially as human settlements and density increase along protected area edges. For example, only one individual is left on Borakalalo Nature Reserve, North West Province, from suspected high poaching rates (Nel 2015). However, the degree to which targeted poaching is a major threat across subpopulations has not been quantified.
Nel P. 2015. Population estimates for large herbivores and predators in protected areas in the North West Parks Board November 2015. North West Parks Board, Mahikeng, South Africa.
Nel P, Schulze E, Goodman P, Child MF. 2016. A conservation assessment of Damaliscus lunatus lunatus. In Child MF, Roxburgh L, Do Linh San E, Raimondo D, Davies-Mostert HT, editors. The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust, South Africa.
https://www.ewt.org.za/Reddata/pdf/Artiodactyla%20(36%20assessments)/2016%20Mammal%20Red%20List_Damaliscus%20lunatus%20lunatus_VU.pdf
The total minimum mature population size is estimated to be 1,353–1,962 individuals (Nel et al. 2016).
Nel P, Schulze E, Goodman P, Child MF. 2016. A conservation assessment of Damaliscus lunatus lunatus. In Child MF, Roxburgh L, Do Linh San E, Raimondo D, Davies-Mostert HT, editors. The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust, South Africa.
https://www.ewt.org.za/Reddata/pdf/Artiodactyla%20(36%20assessments)/2016%20Mammal%20Red%20List_Damaliscus%20lunatus%20lunatus_VU.pdf
In Kruger National Park, Tsessebe declined from 1,163 individuals in 1986 to 419 in 1993 and declined again by 62% until 1999 (Grant & van der Walt 2000). Additionally, many protected subpopulations, especially in North West and Limpopo provinces, continue to decline (estimated 21% population reduction in six such subpopulations), and they have become locally extinct at Madikwe Nature Reserve, as well as Borakalalo Nature Reserve, as none were recorded in the 2015 count (Nel 2015).Overall, five out of 12 sampled subpopulations are declining or locally extinct within the natural distribution 9Nel et al. 2016). We infer this to mean that regeneration potential is low and subpopulations are vulnerable to threatening processes such as exploitation.
Grant CC, van der Walt JL. 2000. Towards an adaptive management approach for the conservation of rare antelope in the Kruger National Park – outcome of a workshop held in May 2000. Koedoe 43:103–112.
http://www.koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedoe/article/view/202
Nel P. 2015. Population estimates for large herbivores and predators in protected areas in the North West Parks Board November 2015. North West Parks Board, Mahikeng, South Africa.
Nel P, Schulze E, Goodman P, Child MF. 2016. A conservation assessment of Damaliscus lunatus lunatus. In Child MF, Roxburgh L, Do Linh San E, Raimondo D, Davies-Mostert HT, editors. The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust, South Africa.
https://www.ewt.org.za/Reddata/pdf/Artiodactyla%20(36%20assessments)/2016%20Mammal%20Red%20List_Damaliscus%20lunatus%20lunatus_VU.pdf