Rationale
Listed as Least Concern, the Damaraland Mole-rat is present within a number of protected areas within the assessment region, including Tswalu Game Reserve, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Molopo Nature Reserve. There are no major threats to this species; consequently its population is unlikely to be declining. It is locally common and is frequently found at high population densities.
Regional population effects: This species is naturally fragmented, but no distinct barriers to dispersal have been identified, and thus a rescue effect is possible.
Distribution
Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, this species is widespread across the central regions of southern Africa, occurring from central and northern Namibia, across western Zambia, and throughout the majority of Botswana (with the exception of the extreme east), into western Zimbabwe. The habitat of this species is contiguous, although naturally fragmented. The southern portion of its range extends into the Northern Cape and North West provinces of South Africa, where it occurs in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Tswalu Game Reserve, Hotazel, Blackrock and Winton (Figure 1). Its distribution is associated with red Kalahari arenosols but it also occurs in coarse sandy soils (Bennett 2013).
The species is said to be sympatric with the Common Mole-rat (Cryptomys hottentotus) where soil sandiness ensures local niche differentiation (Skinner and Chimimba 2005), which may be the case in the North West Province where such conditions exist (Power 2014). Power (2014) surmises that the Mafikeng Bushveld vegetation type is a zone of sympatry, and that the record 100 km west of Mafikeng marks their most eastern distribution in South Africa and thus their range boundary should be redrawn accordingly.
Population trend
Trend
The number of subpopulations of this species is currently unknown, but the Damaraland Mole-rat is considered locally abundant in suitable habitats. Population densities may reach more than 380 individuals / km² in grasslands, thornscrub and wheat fields (J.U.M. Jarvis & N.C. Bennett unpubl. data). However, abundance of subterranean mammals is difficult to estimate (Bennett 2013).
Although the population is not suspected to be declining, it should be established whether there is a continuing loss in the area of occupancy due to climate change, changes in land-use, and poor farming practices.
Threats
There are no major threats to this species. As they occupy arid habitats, there is little conflict with agriculture (Bennett 2013). However, optimal conditions for foraging and burrowing are greatly restricted by the unpredictable and sporadic rainfall associated with the semi-arid habitats occupied by this species (Jarvis and Bennett 1991). Climate change in the Kalahari associated with lowered rainfall and an increase in ambient temperatures could affect the food resources (geophytes) of this species and in turn affect its population size and distribution. Additionally, dry soils become difficult to excavate, thus significantly enhancing the energetic costs associated with burrowing (Jarvis et al. 1998).
Uses and trade
This species is not known to be traded or utilised in any form. Some individuals are taken from the wild for research purposes but this does not appear to have a negative impact upon the population. Individuals are also used for zoo exhibits to educate the public about their unique range of mating strategies.
Conservation
The Damaraland Mole-rat is present within a number of protected areas throughout its range. These include the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Tswalu Game Reserve and Molopo Nature Reserve, within the assessment region, as well as a number of protected areas in northern Botswana. Currently, no interventions are needed for this species within the assessment region. However, more research is needed on the possible effects of climate change on this species.
Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
- The establishment of a breeding programme of captive Damaraland Mole-rats for laboratory research practices would reduce the removal of wildcaught colonies from their natural habitat.
Research priorities: Currently the Mammal Research Institute (University of Pretoria) is attempting to unravel the mechanism of sociality-induced infertility that is operational in this species.
- Research into the conservation of this species, and the effects of habitat loss and enhanced unpredictability of rainfall on population size, may be necessary in light of the current predicted effects of regional climate change.
Encouraged citizen actions:
- Report sightings on virtual museum platforms (e.g., iSpot and MammalMAP). However, due to their subterranean lifestyle, citizen sightings may be rare.
