Rationale

This species remains Least Concern as it is widespread and abundant within the assessment region, occurring in numerous protected areas across its range. There is an estimated mature population size of 63,708–67,383 animals (2013–2015 counts) across the country, with the majority of the population occurring on private land. The largest subpopulation is in Kruger National Park (KNP) with an estimated 8,239–13,490 animals (2012 count). Using a sample of 23 formally protected areas across its range with adequate long-term data, the population has increased by 72–81% over three generations (1990–2015). Similar increases are inferred on private lands. The high numbers of this species on private land reflect its value as one of Africa’s major trophy animals and it should continue to be utilised sustainably as part of the green economy. The wildlife industry is thus important for ensuring the continued existence of large numbers of Greater Kudu on private land. However, care should be taken to not establish further extra-limital subpopulations to prevent competition with local browsers. There are no major threats to this species and thus no immediate conservation interventions are necessary.

Regional population effects: There is presumably dispersal along the northern border of South Africa between Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique through the Mapungubwe and Great Limpopo Transfrontier areas and northeastern KwaZulu-Natal.

Distribution

Historically, the Greater Kudu occurred over much of eastern and southern Africa, from Chad nearly to the Red Sea, south to the Eastern Cape, west to Namibia and north to mid-Angola (IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2016). While it has disappeared from substantial areas, mainly in the north of its range, it generally persists in a greater part of its former range than other large antelope species, as a result of its secretiveness and its ability to survive in settled areas with sufficient cover (IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2016).

Within the assessment region, it historically occurred in the Northern Cape, northeastern KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces, with an isolated subpopulation in the Eastern Cape and scattered subpopulations in the Free State (Owen-Smith 2013). They currently occur in all provinces and Swaziland but are absent from Lesotho. They have remained fairly common throughout most of their range, even on ranchlands and close to settlements (Owen-Smith 2013). The expansion of wildlife ranching across the country is helping to increase the area of occupancy for the species, both inside and outside of the natural distribution. Natural range expansion, perhaps due to climate change, may also be occurring (Power 2014). While most kudu occur on private game farms and in protected areas, they also occur in free-roaming herds in the bushveld regions (Power 2014).

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

Threats

The Greater Kudu remains abundant and well managed in most parts of its range within the assessment region. There are no major identified threats. However, competition for resources from livestock ranching and bushmeat poaching could lead to localised declines. Farmers have also expressed concern about illegal poaching of this species from the roads (Power 2014), and numbers are unusually low in certain tribal areas where they were expected to be common (Buijs 2010). Additionally, kudu were one of the most poached species in Borakalalo National Park, North West Province (Nel 2015). However, this does not seem to be affecting the species' overall long-term survival as they seem to be quite resilient to hunting pressure and remain abundant and well managed in other parts of its range (IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2016). In the North West Province, kudu have been regarded as a problem species by a small number of farmers owing to crop raiding (Power 2014). While hybridisation between the Greater Kudu and the Lesser Kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) has not been recorded, hybridisation between Greater Kudu and Nyala can occur (Dalton et al. 2014). However, hybrid animals are considered to be sterile (Dalton et al. 2014); and thus this is not a serious threat. The species is susceptible to rabies infection and there have been reports of losses of 30–70% of total populations, leading to important economic repercussions (Scott et al. n.d.). However, no rabies cycles have yet been reported for South Africa.

Uses and trade

The Greater Kudu is much sought after by hunters, both for the magnificent horns of bulls and more generally for their high-quality meat (Owen-Smith 2013). They are one of the most commonly hunted species in southern Africa, and generate the highest proportion (13.2%) of hunting income in South Africa (Patterson & Khosa 2005). Greater Kudu are also a favoured game-ranching species, because as browsers they do not compete with domestic livestock (Owen-Smith 2013). The percentage of animals in offtake from ranching versus wild is not known. It also has subsistence value (both recreational and illegal bushmeat). Wildlife ranching and the private sector have thus generally had a positive effect on this species as it has been widely reintroduced onto private properties within its natural distribution.

Conservation

Greater Kudu are well represented in protected areas. It also occurs widely outside protected areas, including large numbers on private farms and conservancies in southern Africa (Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa), where it is a mainstay of the trophy hunting industry. The species remains widely abundant on private farmland in South Africa and seem to be expanding their distribution outside protected areas. For example, within the North West Province in 2010, there were an estimated 1,771 individuals on provincial protected areas and 13,789 individuals on private lands in the province (Power 2014). No major conservation interventions are necessary for this species. However, ongoing harvest and trade management is necessary to ensure the sustainability of offtake on small ranchlands and protected areas. Internal fences should be removed to form conservancies and allow greater available space for the species.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:

• Landowners should continue to form conservancies to sustain wild and free-roaming herds.

Research priorities:

• Effects of wildlife ranching on this species.
• Niche overlap and competition with other browsers.
• Population and harvest level trends, especially on private land.
• Potential of inbreeding with Lesser Kudu.

Encouraged citizen actions:

• Report sightings of free-roaming individuals outside private lands or protected areas on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP).