Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Ara Monadjem Lientjie Cohen David Jacobs Kate MacEwan Leigh Rosanne Richards Corrie Shoeman Theresa Sethusa Peter Taylor
Contributors: Samantha Page-Nicholson Claire Relton
Reviewers: Matthew Child Domitilla Raimondo

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution (estimated extent of occurrence in the assessment region alone is 958,459 km2), its tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, its occurrence in several protected areas and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a threatened category. Savannah habitats are well protected within the assessment region and no direct interventions are necessary.

Regional population effects: This species has a continuous distribution through the northeastern parts of South Africa into Mozambique and Zimbabwe and has a high wing-loading (Norberg & Rayner 1987; Schoeman & Jacobs 2008); thus dispersal is likely and rescue effects are possible.

Distribution

This species of Free-tailed Bat is one of the most common and widespread species in the region (Monadjem et al. 2010). In the west of its range it is found in Senegal, eastwards to Yemen and southwestern Saudi Arabia, and as far south as South Africa. It has been recorded from the island of Bioko and the Annobon Islands (Equatorial Guinea), Pemba and Zanzibar (Tanzania), the Comoros Islands, Mayotte (Goodman 2007), and Madagascar (Bouchard 1998) and on the Aldabra Atoll of the Seychelles (Hutson 2004). Habitat models suggest that suitable conditions occur over much of southern Mozambique (Monadjem et al. 2010). Within the assessment region, it occurs widely in the northeastern areas, from the far-eastern Eastern Cape along the coast in KwaZulu-Natal and through Swaziland, to Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces.

Population trend

Trend

This is a widespread and abundant species (Monadjem et al. 2010), occurring in colonies ranging from about 5–20 to thousands of individuals (Taylor 1998, Mickleburgh et al. 2008). For example, colonies of up to 2,000 have been estimated to occur in the roof of a sugar mill in KwaZulu-Natal (Monadjem et al. 2010). Rautenbach (1997) suggests that this species may be one of the most common within its range in southern Africa, as it has benefited substantially from urban expansion. It is very well represented in museums, with over 1,000 specimens examined in Monadjem et al. (2010).

Threats

Currently, there are no major threats to the species. However, with wind energy potential moving into parts of KwaZulu-Natal, this could pose a serious threat to this species, due to its open-air foraging behaviour (Baerwald et al. 2008, Cryan and Barclay 2009). Cryan and Barclay (2009) recognized that most bat species affected by wind turbines tend to be those that roost in trees, which is an attribute of this species. In some parts of its range, it is threatened from persecution as a pest, especially since it roosts in buildings (ACR 2015).

Uses and trade

There is no evidence to suggest that this species is traded or harvested within the assessment region.

Conservation

In the assessment region, the species is recorded from the protected areas of Kruger National Park, Baobab Tree Reserve, Hans Meresky Nature Reserve, Ndumo Game Reserve, Tembe Elephant Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Pongolapoort Nature Reserve, Pongola Nature Reserve, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, Dlinza Forest Nature Park, Harold Johnson Nature Reserve and Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve. Although no specific conservation efforts are necessary, this species would benefit from the protection of key roost sites.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • Reduce pesticide use in agricultural landscapes.
Research priorities:
  • Studies into the impact of wind farms on this species.
Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Citizens can assist the conservation of the species by reporting sightings on virtual museum platforms (e.g., iSpot and MammalMAP), and therefore contribute to an understanding of the species distribution.

References 

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,]
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