Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi | SANBI Sensitive Species

Exploitation extent

Managed - the species is utilised, but utilisation is sustainably managed. I.e. the number utilised does not exceed the number produced by the wild populations - this should be examined on an annual basis.

Justification and references

Blesbok are used for commercial trophy hunting on a national and international scale and by subsistence hunters for meat. They are also sold as live animals at game auctions. Blesbok are culled (for management purposes) commercially for meat, which is often more lucrative than live game sales. However, this is not predicted to have any negative effects on the population (Dalton et al. 2016). While the subspecies is sometimes found in traditional medicine markets (Whiting et al. 2011), this is considered to be opportunistic and to no impact the population.

Dalton D, Parrini F, Viljoen P, Gaylard A, Peinke D, Mallon D. 2016. A conservation assessment of Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi. 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%20pygargus%20phillipsi_LC.pdf

Whiting, M.J., Williams, V.L. and Hibbitts, T.J. 2011. Animals Traded for Traditional Medicine at the Faraday Market in South Africa: Species Diversity and Conservation Implications.” Journal of Zoology 284: 84–96.

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-642-29026-8_19

Population vulnerability

Population is not vulnerable: size is > 2500 mature individuals, AND the number of known subpopulations is > 5 AND range > 100km²

Justification and references

We estimate a minimum mature population size of 54,426 individuals (using a 70% mature population structure) across 678 protected areas and wildlife ranches (counts between 2010 and 2016 (Nel et al. 2016).

Dalton D, Parrini F, Viljoen P, Gaylard A, Peinke D, Mallon D. 2016. A conservation assessment of Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi. 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%20pygargus%20phillipsi_LC.pdf

Targeted demographics

Mature (breeding) individuals are killed, significantly weakened or are permanently removed from the wild, OR immature individuals are targeted and this significantly impacts mature (breeding) individuals.

Regeneration potential

This species has a fast population growth rate, and there is a good chance the wild populations will recover from exploitation.