Rationale
(Changed due to Same category but change in criteria)
Known from only six sites which probably represent a single location, a restricted distributional range estimated at 1,327 km2 and the area of occupancy is estimated at 96 km2 from six known locations (using a 16 km2 grid area). The main threat to this fossorial species is the continuous decline in the quality and extent of its preferred natural habitats within low-lying and high-altitude indigenous Afromontane forests in the Grootbos-Magoebaskloof area (Northern Mistbelt Forests, Envirotek 2003; Wolkberg Afromontane Forest Belt, IBA_SA SA005) and adjoining montane grasslands. Commercial forestry operations and associated road infrastructure cause severe degradation and fragmentation of natural forests, and only small fragments of its habitat are protected in state-controlled forest reserves. However, protection measures on the ground are dubious and do not target management of this species. Increasing privatization of some state forests brings the continued protection of this species’ habitat into doubt. Agriculture, rural and urban housing and tourism infrastructure development around Haenertsburg are additional but more localized causes of habitat destruction, fragmentation and loss. Therefore the species is listed as Endangered under criterion B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).
Distribution
Recorded only from six localities in the Grootbos-Magoebaskloof area (Woodbush-De Hoek) of the far Northern Eastern Escarpment (Drakensberg) between Haenertsburg, New Agatha and Tzaneen in Limpopo Province (South Africa). Three of the six confirmed localities fall within protected indigenous forest reserves (De Hoek, Woodbush and New Agatha). All of these records fall within the southern section of the Northern Mistbelt Forests (Envirotek 2003)/ Wolkberg Afromontane Forest Belt (IBA_SA – SA005).
Population trend
Trend
Very localized population, but locally common; most numerous in moist sandy loam soils associated with high altitude riverine forests near watercourses and ponds.
Threats
In the former Transvaal Province (South Africa), a large geopolitical area now comprising the Gauteng, Limpopo, North-West and Mpumalanga provinces, this species was given the highest regional priority score for mammals (Freitag and van Jaarsveld 1997). Within its extent of occurrence, the distribution of populations is highly localized and naturally fragmented due to a preference for soft sandy loam soils along watercourses, especially in indigenous forests. Inferred major threats are severe habitat alteration and fragmentation of Afromontane forest and adjoining grasslands by commercial forestry operations and associated roads infrastructure. Although somewhat limited, expanding rural and urban housing, commercial and tourism infrastructure developments in the last five years have resulted in areas of suitable habitat being cleared or severely transformed. Minor threats include overgrazing of pastoral land along watercourses, predation by pets and persecution by gardeners in rural and urban settlements.
Conservation
Protected in the De Hoek, New Agatha and Woodbush Forest Reserves. Research needed to document most aspects of natural history, ecology, evolutionary relationships, phylogeography and population genetics of this species. In the former Transvaal Province (South Africa), its was given the highest regional priority score for mammals (Freitag and van Jaarsveld 1997). It currently ranks among the top 100 mammalian species (no. 73) of the EDGE of Existence Programme (Zoological Society of London), which aims to conserve the world’s Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered species (Mammals on the EDGE: Conservation Priorities Based on Threat and Phylogeny, Isaac et al. 2007 and subsequent updates). The species is not receiving dedicated conservation attention at present.
