Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Conrad Matthee Beryl Wilson Terry Robinson Matthew Child
Contributors: Lizanne Roxburgh Andrew Smith
Reviewers: Conrad Matthee Beryl Wilson Terry Robinson Matthew Child

Rationale

Red rock hares are widespread but patchily distributed within the assessment region due to their restriction to areas of rocky habitat. While no estimates of population size or trend are available for any species, we infer large populations for each, given their extents of occurrence, and retain the Least Concern status for all species. However, while their rocky habitats are largely inaccessible and unlikely to be transformed, increasing hunting pressure (inferred from expanding human settlements and anecdotal reports of decline), loss of foraging areas from agricultural expansion, and habitat degradation from overgrazing may be causing local declines and possibe extinctions. These species are easily hunted and are thought to be substantially utilised for subsistence or sport hunting. For example, anecdotal reports from the Northern Cape suggest Smith’s Red Rock Hare has declined over the past 30 years. Similarly, the Natal Red Rock Hare occurs in areas of high human population density and may be increasingly locally threatened by hunting. Emerging threats to Smith’s Red Rock Hare may be increased competition with Rock Hyraxes (Procavia capensis) following the decline of raptors in the region, grazing pressure from goats and sheep, and increased predation from mesocarnivores due to lack of holistic management.

Concerted research into population size, densities and trends, as well as quantifying the identified threats, should be conducted before specific interventions are implemented if needed. Specifically, the area of occupancy and population trends of Smith’s and Natal Red Rock Hares should be determined and both species reassessed once such data are available. Long-term monitoring sites should be established to detect subpopulation trends in different regions.

Regional population effects: For Natal Red Rock Hare, the majority of the population occurs within the assessment region so no rescue effects are possible. Jameson’s Red Rock Hare has a disjunct distribution between the Namibian population and the rest of its range and it is unlikely that there is any gene flow between the two. However, dispersal between South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe is suspected to occur. Thus, rescue effects are possible. For Smith’s Red Rock Hare, given the approximately 1,750 km separation between the East African and South Africa populations, it is possible that these are two different species and no rescue effect can occur. If this is the case, then the South African population would be near endemic.

Distribution

The close confinement of all Pronolagus species to rocky areas means their distribution is discontinuous and naturally fragmented with vast areas of land within their extent of occurrence unsuitable for them (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). As these species exist in habitat patches, area of occupancy should be calculated using land-cover data and remote sensing.

Pronolagus crassicaudatus is near endemic to the assessment region, with only a tiny part of its range in southern Mozambique in the Maputo Province (known from only two records there, Happold 2013a). It is found in southeastern South Africa in the provinces of Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga (Duthie & Robinson 1990; Matthee et al. 2004), and in Swaziland in the Lumbobo and highveld regions where it is considered uncommon (Monadjem 1998). Although Meester et al. (1986) indicated that it occurs in eastern Lesotho, as it is found from sea level to 1,550 m in elevation (Duthie and Robinson 1990), it is unlikely to occur extensively in Lesotho. Thus, field surveys and specimens are needed to confirm its presence in the country (Lynch 1994). It does occur against the grassy slopes in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg (Pringle 1974). While it is not recorded from the Free State or northeast Eastern Cape (Lynch 1983, 1989), some specimens from the northeastern Eastern Cape possessed both P. rupestris and P. crassicaudatus characters (Lynch 1994).

Pronolagus randensis was first described from Observatory Hill, in what is now almost the centre of Johannesburg. Jameson’s Red Rock Hare occurs in northeastern South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, western Mozambique, and a separate, isolated population exists marginally in western Angola to central Namibia (Duthie & Robinson 1990; Happold 2013b). There is no reason to suspect gene flow between the two isolated populations, which are some 900 km apart, and taxonomic resolution is required. Within the assessment region, it occurs in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West provinces.

Pronolagus rupestris occurs in South Africa (Free State, North West, and Northern Cape provinces), and in a separate, isolated population in southwestern Kenya, central Tanzania, eastern Zambia, and Malawi (Duthie & Robinson 1990; Robinson & Matthee 2005). The two populations are separated by 1,200 km and thus require taxonomic resolution (Happold 2013c). Although previously thought to no longer occur in Namibia (Bronner et al. 2003; Happold 2013c), there is one confirmed record from Keetmanshoop (C. Matthee unpubl. data). Field surveys are needed to determine the continued existence, extent and viability of the Namibian population. The species is restricted to rocky outcrops, so the exact area of occupancy is probably lower than indicated from its wide extent of occurrence. Much of the habitat in the region of the distribution map is characterised by isolated rocky outcrops.

Pronolagus saundersiae is endemic to the assessment region (Happold 2013d), with a continuous range along the escarpment of South Africa, including Lesotho and Swaziland. It is widely distributed in the southern and eastern regions of South Africa (including portions of Western Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces), as well as Lesotho and western expanses of Swaziland. It occurs throughout the Drakensberg escarpment range (Rautenbach 1982; Lynch 1983, 1989), and is restricted mostly to the top of rocky outcrops but does marginally occur in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. Although Robinson (1982) excluded Hewitt’s Red Rock Hare from occurring in northern Free State Province, specimens were positively identified by Lynch (1983). While Hewitt’s and Natal Red Rock Hares occur sympatrically over some areas, all specimens collected in northeast Eastern Cape were identified as Hewitt’s Red Rock Hare, except one specimen from the farm Hamilton (3028Ca) that could be Natal Red Rock Hare (Lynch 1989). The two species are generally separated by habitat preference where P. saundersiae occurs at higher elevations (C. Matthee unpubl. data). For example, in KwaZulu-Natal Province, it occupies the escarpment and top of the Drakensberg from Underberg to Newcastle (Pringle 1974). In Lesotho, only a single specimen (Mt Moorosi) of Hewitt’s Red Rock Hare was collected by Lynch (1994). However, it is inferred to be more widespread in the country due to observations of its characteristic oval and flattened dung pellets and personal communications with local residents(Lynch 1994). The area of occupancy is in a continuous mountainous region and there is no reason to believe that this region is limited or contracting. Due to the rocky nature of the habitat, it is well conserved in many localities.

All museum records need vetting following taxonomic resolution of these species to accurately delineate the distribution maps.

Population trend

Trend

There are no population size or trend estimates available for any Pronolagus species. The near-endemic Natal Red Rock Hare is a widespread and locally abundant species (Duthie & Robinson 1990; Taylor 1998). However, continually increasing hunting and trapping due to expanding rural settlements is suspected to be causing local declines. This species has a relatively restricted distribution within areas characterised by rapid human population increase.

Similarly, while Jameson’s Red Rock Hare is thought to be fairly common throughout its range (Duthie & Robinson 1990), it too may be experiencing local declines due to encroachment of human settlements and subsequent hunting pressure. Happold (2013b) describes it as being very common in the granite hills of Matopos Hills in Zimbabwe and the sandstone formations of eastern Botswana.

Smith’s Red Rock Hare is thought to have large subpopulations in the Kuruman and Springbok areas but the majority of anecdotal reports collected from farmers across the Northern Cape report a decline in numbers over the past 30 years (B. Wilson unpubl. data.). Happold (2013c) reports the total population size as being above 10,000 mature individuals in South Africa, but this needs investigation.

Hewitt’s Red Rock Hare is considered fairly abundant throughout its distribution (Happold 2013d), although Lynch (1983) recorded it as being rarely collected. Happold (2013d) reported the total population size as being above 10,000 mature individuals in South Africa, but this needs investigation.

All Pronolagus species use latrines and the characteristically disc-shaped pellets are an indication of their presence in an area.

Threats

Pronolagus crassicaudatus is found in a limited area in coastal and inland southern Africa. Here, human populations largely of lower income who hunt local fauna for subsistence are increasing, thereby increasing the threat to this otherwise abundant species (Matthee et al. 2004). Agriculture and habitat encroachment are also causing a decline of P. crassicaudatus (Matthee et al. 2004). Since the 1900's, 21-50% of total habitat has been lost and future loss (until 2022) is expected to remain between 21-50% (Matthee et al. 2004).

Uses and trade

These species are likely to be fairly important in subsistence communities where they are easily obtained. Maliehe (1993) specifically mentioned rock hares as being an important bush meat item in Lesotho and in Zululand, but this is likely to be true throughout their ranges. As a fairly slow-moving species, they are easily hunted with dogs. At night, they have a tendency to freeze when chanced upon in spotlights and can be easily shot or captured in nets (B. Wilson pers. obs.). During the day, it is also possible to hunt them in their refuges, using a coiled piece of barbed wire that hooks and drags the animal out of its shelter (B. Wilson pers. obs.). Whilst having a particularly warm and thick fur, pelts from these species are prone to hairslip and do not cure well, making them unsuitable for hardwearing fur items.

Conservation

Rock hares exist in numerous national and provincial protected areas, as well as, presumably, private protected areas and conservancies. However, these should be collated and confirmed to estimate current occupancy. They are protected by most Provincial Nature Conservation agencies to a certain degree but not in Gauteng, North West, Western Cape or Eastern Cape provinces. The main intervention at this stage is research to quantify potential threats, area of occupancy, population size and trends. Until such data have been collected, no specific conservation interventions can be proposed. However, the following general interventions will benefit the rock hare species:
  1. Set aside land under crop and livestock agriculture to conserve foraging areas around rocky areas or dry riverbeds.
  2.  Enforce legislation restricting residential development in rocky habitat or hilly slopes.
  3. Employ ecological stocking rates to reduce habitat degradation and grazing pressure.
  4.  Employ holistic management of predators to reduce heightened interspecific predation and competition.
  5. The continued formation of conservancies should be encouraged to protect rocky habitat and reduce localised grazing pressure.
Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • Holistic management of ranchlands through reduction in stocking rates, predator control or areas of set-aside habitat.
Research priorities:
  • Taxonomic revision is suggested for this species, especially for P. saundersiae (Robinson & Matthee 2005). We need to know whether the disjunct populations of P. rupestris and P. randensis are genetically distinct – all inferences about geneflow have not been tested.
  • Fine scale distributional studies across the range.
  • Studies on changes in density across a spectrum of habitat quality. Quantification of population size and trends.
  • Studies into the dispersal abilities and survival of subadult individuals in different habitats.
  • Levels of direct persecution by farmers and subsistence hunters, and the efficacy of education and awareness programmes targeted at landowners.
  • Monitoring of population trends.
  • Vetting of museum records to revise distribution maps.
  • Potential of wildlife ranching and the private sector in conserving rock hares.

Encouraged citizen actions:

  • Refrain from having too many dogs on farms.
  • Report sightings, especially outside protected areas, on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP). Look out for their disc-shaped pellets as an indication of their presence.
  • Balanced farming methods to prevent changes in predation pressures experienced by the hares.

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