Poecilogale albinucha | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Matthew Child

Sensitive in 2010

Family

Mustelidae

Reason for the sensitivity status

Widespread targeted exploitation for traditional medicine. Evidence of regional declines. Regeneration potentially most likely depends on habitat quality, which is declining. It is feasible that the high poacher effort means that releasing data will exacerbate threat. While this species is highly mobile and difficult to find, its restriction to moist grasslands narrows the search.

This species is threatened by widespread, unregulated, unsustainable exploitation of wild populations. The localities of remaining populations need to be protected to avoid any further exploitation, which is likely to drive it to extinction.

Exploitation extent

Significant - wild individuals of the species are known to be exploited, collected, traded or utilized in a targeted manner, and utilisation is widespread, affects the majority of wild populations and/or is causing rapid decline of the wild population.

Justification and references

The species is hunted for use in traditional medicines (Child et al. 2016). Cunningham and Zondi (1991) suggested that hunting pressure had increased to the extent that it is now scarce in eastern South Africa.The species is used in traditional medicine and is easily captured when encountered. Cunningham and Zondi (1991) regarded this species as one of the most heavily hunted animals for the traditional medicine trade. The high demand for this species was corroborated by Ngwenya (2001) who found it was the second most sought after species in KwaZulu-Natal. Skins are commonly used by traditional healers and sangomas as a good luck charm (Stuart et al. 2015). They have also been found in traditional medicine markets in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng (Simelane & Kerley 1998; Whiting et al. 2011). They are also highly prized in traditional medicine in Lesotho (Lynch 1994; N.L. Avenant pers. comm. 2015). Cunningham and Zondi (1991) suggested that hunting pressure had increased to the extent that it is now scarce in eastern South Africa.

Child MF, Rowe-Rowe D, Birss C, Wilson B, Palmer G, Stuart C, Stuart M, West S, Do Linh San E. 2016. A conservation assessment of Poecilogale albinucha. 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/Carnivora(5)/2016%20Mammal%20Red%20List_Poecilogale%20albinucha_NT.pdf

Cunningham A.B., Zondi A.S. 1991. Use of animal parts for the commercial trade in traditional medicines. Institute of Natural Resources, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Lynch CD. 1994. The mammals of Lesotho. Navorsinge van die Nasionale Museum Bloemfontein 10:177–241.

http://www.nasmus.co.za/departments/mammalogy/scientific-articles

Ngwenya MP. 2001. Implications of the Medicinal Animal Trade for Nature Conservation in KwaZulu-Natal. Report No. NA/124/04, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, South Africa.

Simelane TS, Kerley GIH. 1998. Conservation implications of the use of vertebrates by Xhosa traditional healers in South Africa. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 28(4):121–126.

https://journals.co.za/content/wild/28/4/EJC117057

Stuart C, Stuart M, Do Linh San E. 2015. Poecilogale albinucha. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T41662A45215258.

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41662/0

Whiting MJ, Williams VL, Hibbitts TJ. 2011. Animals traded for traditional medicine at the Faraday market in South Africa: species diversity and conservation implications. Journal of Zoology 284(2):84–96.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2010.00784.x/abstract

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 estimated that only 7,138 km2 of the species’ area of occupancy is within natural habitat outside of potential harvesting pressure which, combined with it being a naturally low-density species, may mean there are fewer than 10,000 mature individuals (CHild et al. 2016).

However, while it is rare, it is unlikely that there are fewer than 2,500 mature individuals.

We estimated that only 7,138 km2 of the species’ area of occupancy is within natural habitat outside of potential harvesting pressure (see Distribution) which, combined with it being a naturally low-density species, may mean there are fewer than 10,000 mature individuals.

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.

Justification and references

Whole animals are killed for traditional medicine.

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

Although this species has a wide range, it is not abundant (females only have one litter per year). It is a specialist predator of small mammals and has a high metabolic rate, which means it can only exist in habitats containing adequate numbers of prey. Such habitats are being lost or drastically transformed to grow food, cash crops or commercial forestry plantations. This is compounded by overgrazing that reduces the cover on which the African Striped Weasel’s prey species rely (Child et al. 2016).

As such, we infer that regeneration potential is low as growth rate will depend on habitat quality and they appear not to have recovered in eastern South Africa.

https://www.ewt.org.za/Reddata/pdf/Carnivora(5)/2016%20Mammal%20Red%20List_Poecilogale%20albinucha_NT.pdf