Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: J Huart T Butynski Y Jong
Reviewers: Erik Meijaard

Rationale

Listed as Least Concern as this species is widespread, often locally abundant, and has a high reproductive rate. Nonetheless, most populations seem to be in decline over much of the geographic range.

Distribution

The Somali Warthog is distributed east of the Eastern (Gregory) Rift Valley in the Horn of Africa and Kenya. It is known to occur in north and south Somalia, southeast and south Ethiopia, and central, east, southeast, and extreme north Kenya (d'Huart and Grubb 2001, Culverwell et al. 2008, De Jong et al. 2009, De Jong and Butynski 2014, De Jong et al. in prep.). Probably present over almost all of Somalia, but information to support this opinion is lacking. Most records are between about sea level to 1,000 m asl. Highest altitudinal record is 1,690 m asl (north Somalia; D. Mallon pers. comm.). Extent of occurrence, as currently known, is c. 320,000 km2 (De Jong et al. in prep.). Actual extent of occurrence is probably much greater than this.

Sympatric with the Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) in parts of north Somalia, and in parts of central, east, and southeast Kenya (De Jong and Butynski 2014, De Jong et al. in prep.).

The Cape Warthog is distributed in South Africa, southeast former Cape Province and, apparently, in adjacent parts of KwaZulu-Natal. Extinct since the 1870s (d'Huart and Grubb 2001, Grubb and d'Huart 2010).

Population trend

Trend

P. aethiopicus occurs at low densities over most of its range. It is locally abundant where there is green grass and water, sometimes near small, remote, villages and lodges (Grubb and d'Huart 2010; T. Butynski, Y. de Jong, J. Culverwell, and J. King pers. obs.). In Ethiopia, common in the Ogaden region in aggregations of up to 30 individuals in bushland around permanent wells and close to towns (Wilhelmi et al. 2004). At high density during the dry season on patches of green grass along the Ewaso N’yiro River, central Kenya (Y. de Jong and T. Butynski pers. obs.). In Kenya, relatively abundant in predominantly Islamic areas compared to predominantly Christian areas (De Leeuw et al. 2001; T. Butynski and Y. de Jong pers. obs.). High mortality in central Kenya during dry periods (H. Dufresne pers. comm.). There are large areas within the geographic range were the species is absent or at very low density.

Threats

The Desert Warthog is vulnerable to climatic extremes (including drought, high rainfall, low temperature), disease (including rinderpest), and predation. The main threats are human-caused habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation, competition with livestock for water and food, and hunting by people (mainly non-Muslims) (De Leeuw et al. 2001, Wilhelmi et al. 2004, De Jong and Butynski 2014). Limited drinking water and food appear to keep populations at low density in central Kenya (mean annual rainfall < 500 mm), and probably elsewhere. Greatly increased human and livestock populations have led to declines and extirpations in recent decades in central Kenya; competition for water and food has become intense as the region is severely over-stocked with livestock, both outside and inside officially protected areas (De Jong and Butynski 2014, A. Caron pers. comm.). The larger tusks are traded as souvenirs in Somalia (Fagotto 1985) and sometimes exported. The current status of the Desert Warthog in Somalia and Ethiopia is unknown.

The Desert Warthog occurs in at least 10 protected areas in Kenya (Meru National Park, Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Samburu Nature Reserve, Buffalo Springs Nature Reserve, Shaba Nature Reserve, Losai Nature Reserve, Arawale Nature Reserve, Dodori Nature Reserve, Boni Nature Reserve), at least one protected area in Somalia (Hargeisa National Park), and at least one protected areas in Ethiopia (Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary) (d'Huart and Grubb 2001, Culverwell et al. 2008, Grubb and d'Huart 2010, De Jong and Butynski 2014, De Jong et al. in prep.). Likely present in Kora National Park and Tana River Primate NR in Kenya, and in Daallo Mountain National Park, Lag Badana National Park, and Kismayo National Park in Somalia (De Jong et al. in prep). All of the protected areas in Kenya where the Desert Warthog occurs are affected by poaching of animals and wood products, invasions by people and their livestock, and insecurity (De Jong and Butynski 2014, De Jong et al. in prep.). This is likely to also be the case in Ethiopia and Somalia.

Uses and trade

The species is hunted by people (mainly non-Muslims) (De Leeuw et al. 2001, Wilhelmi et al. 2004, De Jong and Butynski 2014). The larger tusks are traded as souvenirs in Somalia (Fagotto 1985) and sometimes exported.

Conservation

The Desert Warthog is a largely unstudied species for which many more field surveys are needed to determine geographic limits, area of occupancy, abundance, and the impacts of various human activities (particularly livestock raising) on distribution and abundance. Information on habitat preference, habitat limits, ecology, and behaviour are also needed.

References 

[@electronic{11700,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-1},
 year = {2016}
}
,@electronic{13974,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-2},
 year = {2016}
}
,@article{41767,
 author = {Wilhelmi, F., Kaariye, X. Y. and Heckel, J. O.},
 journal = {Suiform Soundings},
 number = {2},
 pages = {52--54},
 title = {The Desert warthog in the Ogaden, Ethiopia},
 volume = {4},
 year = {2004}
}
,@article{41767,
 author = {d'Huart, J.P. and Grubb, P.},
 journal = {African Journal of Ecology},
 number = {2},
 pages = {156--169},
 title = {Distribution of the common warthog (<i>Phacochoerus africanus</i>) and the desert warthog (<i>Phacochoerus aethiopicus</i>) in the Horn of Africa.},
 volume = {39},
 year = {2001}
}
,@article{41767,
 author = {Culverwell, J., Feely, J., Bell-Cross, S., de Jong, Y.A. and Butynski, T.M.},
 journal = {Swara},
 number = {3},
 pages = {50--52},
 title = {A new pig for Tsavo},
 volume = {31},
 year = {2008}
}
,@article{41767,
 author = {de Jong, Y.A., Culverwell, J. and Butynski, T.M.},
 journal = {Suiform Soundings},
 number = {2},
 pages = {4--6},
 title = {Desert warthog <i>Phacochoerus aethiopicus</i> found in Tsavo West National Park, southern Kenya},
 volume = {8},
 year = {2009}
}
,@article{41767,
 author = {Obanda, V., Lekolool, I., Munyao, M., Chege, S., Manyibe, T. and Gakuya, F.},
 journal = {African Journal of Ecology},
 number = {3},
 pages = {373--376},
 title = {New distribution records for the desert Warthog (<i>Phacochoerus aethiopicus delamerei</i> – Pallas1766)},
 volume = {49},
 year = {2011}
}
,@article{41767,
 author = {Grubb, P. and d’Huart, J.P.},
 journal = {Journal of East African Natural History},
 number = {2},
 pages = {77--102},
 title = {Rediscovery of the Cape Warthog <i>Phacochoerus aethiopicus</i>: a Review.},
 volume = {99},
 year = {2010}
}
,@techreport{41767,
 address = {Washington D.C. },
 author = {De Jong, Y.A. and Butynski, T.M.},
 institution = {National Geographic Society },
 title = {Distribution, abundance, ecology, and conservation status of the desert warthog (<i>Phacochoerus aethiopicus</i>) in northern Kenya},
 year = {2014}
}
,@article{41767,
 author = {De Leeuw, J., Waweru, M.N., Okello, O.O., Maloba, M., Nguru, P., Said, M.Y., Aligula, H.M., Heitkönig, I.M.A. and Reid, R.S. },
 journal = {Biological Conservation },
 pages = {297--306},
 title = {Distribution and diversity of wildlife in northern Kenya in relation to livestock and permanent water points.},
 volume = {100},
 year = {2001}
}
,@article{41767,
 author = {Fagotto F. },
 journal = {Environmental Conservation },
 pages = {260--264},
 title = {Larger animals of Somalia in 1984.},
 volume = {12},
 year = {1985}
}
,@inbook{41767,
 address = {London},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {<i>Phacochoerus aethiopicus</i> Desert Warthog},
 editor = {Grubb, P. and d'Huart, J.P.},
 pages = {51--53},
 publisher = {Bloomsbury Publishing},
 title = {Mammals of Africa. Vol VI: Pigs, Hippopotamuses, Chevrotain, Giraffes, Deer and Bovids},
 year = {2013}
}
,@article{41767,
 author = {De Jong, Y.A., d'Huart, J.P. and Butynski, T.M. },
 title = {Biogeography of the desert warthog <i>Phacochoerus aethiopicus</i> (Pallas, 1766) and common warthog Phacochoerus africanus (Gmelin, 1788) in the Horn of Africa and Kenya.},
 year = {in prep.}
}
,@phdthesis{41767,
 author = {Nyafu, K. },
 school = {Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University},
 title = {Warthog as an introduced species in the Eastern Cape. },
 year = {2009}
}
,]
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