Damaliscus pygargus pygargus | 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

The horns and skins are traded as part of trophy hunts, and live animals are traded at game auctions. Individuals are utilised from captive breeding, ranched (extensive) and wild (formally protected) areas.At present there has been no reported illegal offtake of Bontebok in any of the national parks or provincial parks where they occur 9Radloff et al. 2016).

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Radloff FGT, Birss C, Cowell C, Peinke D, Dalton D, Kotze A, Kerley GIH, Child MF. 2016. A conservation assessment of Damaliscus pygargus pygargus. 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%20pygargus_VU.pdf

Population vulnerability

Population is vulnerable: size is <= 2500 mature individuals OR the number of known subpopulations is <= 5 OR range is <= 100km² OR species at risk of localised extinctions

Justification and references

The estimated mature population size (within the natural and benign introduction areas) ranges from 514 to 1,618 individuals (Radloff et al. 2016).

Radloff FGT, Birss C, Cowell C, Peinke D, Dalton D, Kotze A, Kerley GIH, Child MF. 2016. A conservation assessment of Damaliscus pygargus pygargus. 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%20pygargus_VU.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 slow population growth rate, or the growth rate varies depending on habitat, and there is a poor chance the wild populations will recover from exploitation OR a collector might feasibly harvest the entire extant population removing the chance of subsequent recruitment.

Justification and references

Overall, the core population within the natural range on protected areas has not increased since the 2004 estimate, due to low population growth rates and poor environmental conditions in many areas (Radloff et al. 2016). We infer this to mean poor regeneration potential following harvesting.

Radloff FGT, Birss C, Cowell C, Peinke D, Dalton D, Kotze A, Kerley GIH, Child MF. 2016. A conservation assessment of Damaliscus pygargus pygargus. 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%20pygargus_VU.pdf