Rationale

The near–endemic Southern Mountain Reedbuck is widely but patchily distributed within the assessment region, restricted to rocky and grassy hillsides. Over three generations (1998–2013), there has been an estimated decline of 61% in 32 formally protected areas across its entire range (and thus broadly representative of trends for all subpopulations), where only 10 protected areas are stable or increasing. This equates to an estimated decline in abundance from 6,393 to 2,504 individuals in the sampled protected areas (representing c. 17% of the counted population on both formally protected and private lands). Analysing only the 19 protected areas with count data available for the full time period (thus omitting extrapolation of subpopulation size), the estimated population reduction is 73% (4,396 to 1,184 individuals). Of particular concern is the decline in the two Northern Cape protected areas where the estimated population size of 1,862 in 1998 declined to 179 in 2013. Thus, based on available data from formally protected areas, we list this subspecies as Endangered A2b due to an estimated population decline of 61–73% on all protected areas for which there are long-term count data available. While Mountain Reedbuck are difficult to survey accurately, we assume systemic error is constant in the counts and thus this represents a genuine decline. Although there are many subpopulations existing on private land, and long-term monitoring is needed to quantify subpopulation trends outside of protected areas, anecdotal reports suggest similar declines and we suspect threats are similar or more intense outside protected areas and thus privately protected subpopulations are probably not mitigating the losses on formally protected areas. Once such data are available, this subspecies should be reassessed as the trends may corroborate the current existing decline or conversely be mitigating losses in formally protected areas (and thus justify downlisting). From available data, the current (2013) minimum mature population size is estimated to be 10,214–13,669 individuals on both formally protected and private land. Thus, Mountain Reedbuck does not qualify for the C criterion.

It is uncertain why the population has declined so dramatically and research quantifying potential threats is desperately needed. Current hypotheses include increased predation rates, possibly from higher abundances of Black-backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas) and Caracal (Caracal caracal) possibly associated with lack of holistic land management, increased frequency of drought spells, break-outs from protected areas, and illegal hunting, directly or indirectly, for bushmeat or sport. It is crucial that conservationists gather enough information to develop a Biodiversity Management Plan and engage with private landowners to implement identified interventions.

Regional population effects: This subspecies has a disjunct distribution between the assessment region and the rest of its African range. It occurs marginally in Botswana and Mozambique but no other neighbouring countries and thus no rescue effect is possible. The Botswana subpopulation may be isolated from South Africa, but separation between subpopulations has not been measured, and would likely be a function of the connectedness of rugged terrain and watersheds.

Distribution

The Mountain Reedbuck species occurs in three separate populations in East and southern Africa, and in a restricted area of eastern Nigeria and north-central Cameroon (East 1999; Avenant 2013). The Southern Mountain Reedbuck (R. f. fulvorufula) occurs extensively in South Africa, being present in all provinces, although only marginally in the Western Cape and the eastern Northern Cape provinces. They still occur throughout much of their former range, largely on private land but also in many formally protected areas throughout their range (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). They have also been extensively reintroduced in parts of its former range. They are rare in Lesotho, having been observed by Lynch (1994), Avenant (2004) and Avenant et al. (2014) only in a few scattered localities, but occur in the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal Province up to 2,200 m asl (Rowe-Rowe 1994). They also occur in the hills of Swaziland (Monadjem 1998) and only narrowly in southeastern Botswana and the Lebombo Mountains of southwestern Mozambique (Skinner & Chimimba 2005), and thus the subspecies is near endemic to the assessment region. They have also been introduced into Namibia, as evidenced by their advertisement in Namibian hunting operations and permits having been issued to export the subspecies from South Africa to Namibia (E. Schulze pers. comm. 2016). Due to their specialised habitat requirements, they have a patchy and discontinuous distribution (Skinner & Chimimba 2005).

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

Threats

While Friedmann and Daly (2004) listed no threats in the previous assessment, Avenant (2013) listed the main threats as the expansion of human settlements, which is likely to increase the rates of poaching, disturbance by cattle herders and their livestock, and hunting by dogs (see also Lynch 1994; Avenant et al. 2014). This certainly may be affecting the Southern Mountain Reedbuck, especially as human density increases along protected area edges (Wittemyer et al. 2008). For example, human settlement expansion along the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Park may be increasing poaching rates (I.pers. comm. 2016), possibly leading to the observed declines.

Additionally, anecdotal reports from the Free State and Northern Cape provinces suggest that an emerging threat is increased predation levels from higher abundances of mesopredators, especially Black-backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas) (Pohl 2015; C. Kraft and N. Avenant pers. obs. 2015). For example, camera trap evidence has been obtained of Black-backed Jackals pursuing Mountain Reedbuck in the Botsalano Game Reserve, North West Province (J. Power pers. comm. 2016). However, on ranchlands where mesopredators are controlled, numbers are still declining (C. Kraft unpubl. data). Similarly, increasing Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus) abundance may damage suitable habitat and lead to increased lamb predation, but this needs to be investigated. Reintroduction of larger predators into national parks may also be affecting numbers, as the reintroduction of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in Mountain Zebra National Park correlated with the decline in Mountain Reedbuck numbers (A. Gaylard pers. comm. 2016). Break-outs from protected areas have also been suggested as a reason for declining numbers. However, more research is required to understand the cause of the declines.

Droughts may also affect Southern Mountain Reedbuck as they move down from suitable habitat areas due to a lack of sufficient food resources and to obtain water resources, which makes them more vulnerable to predation as they are forced into the open habitat areas. In the Northern Cape, kills have been noted in areas where you would not expect the animals to be found (C. Kraft unpubl. data).

Uses and trade

The Mountain Reedbuck is hunted for sport and food (IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2008). Trophy hunting is managed by provincial permit systems, with annual numbers hunted varying from ~ 400 to 1,000 animals across South Africa. Live animal translocations occur between provincial reserves and private game farms, but unpublished observations have found that many animals disappear from their new areas, suggesting that translocations may not be very successful. Subpopulations may recover slowly from disturbances such as translocation and hunting (E. Schulze pers. obs.), and should be investigated as a cause for decline.

Conservation

The primary intervention at this stage is research to investigate the causes of the decline and to then outline appropriate interventions. Adaptive management of formally protected areas is recommended to trial strategies that are effective in stabilising or increasing subpopulations. Private landowners should also be encouraged to continue to form conservancies to reduce the edge effects of small areas of natural habitat, such that vulnerability to poaching is lessened. There are currently no incentives for private landowners to provide stock to provincial nature reserves or to manage them holistically. More stakeholder engagement and research thus needs to be undertaken to understand how the private and public sector populations can interact for the conservation of the species. A more detailed analysis of trophy hunting and translocation impacts is necessary. With regards the latter, unpublished data suggest that the success rates of translocations between provincial nature reserves are not high. For example, most Mountain Reedbuck translocated into Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve during a single translocation event in 2001 disappeared and could not be accounted for (A. Taylor unpubl. data). Caution should be used, therefore, when using translocation as a conservation measure with this species, and further research is recommended.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:

• A Biodiversity Management Plan should be formulated by pooling knowledge from all stakeholders (conservationists, private landowners and local communities).
• Monitor and enforce penalties for illegal hunting.
• Patrols of private land for the purposes of apprehending would-be hunter trespassers, and snare removals must be regularly performed.
• More suitable survey methodologies should be considered to assist in getting more reliable population numbers. General multi-species aerial surveys tend to result in under-counts in many of the typical habitat types.

Research priorities:

• Investigating the reasons why the formally protected subpopulations have declined and quantifying the severity of various threats.
• Assessing subpopulation trends on private lands and establishing long-term monitoring sites.
• Identifying and testing suitable conservation interventions, such as the outcomes of translocations.
• Identification of suitable habitat areas, particularly in areas where wildlife ranching is commonplace.

Encouraged citizen actions:

• Report sightings, especially outside protected areas, on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP).
• Encourage wildlife ranchers to introduce them in suitable areas.
• Create conservancies to protect suitable habitats.