Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Emmanuel Do Linh San Gerrie Camacho Lourens Swanepoel Samantha Page-Nicholson Christopher Stuart Mathilde Stuart
Contributors: Zimkitha Madikiza
Reviewers: Emmanuel Do Linh San Gerrie Camacho Lourens Swanepoel Samantha Page-Nicholson Christopher Stuart Mathilde Stuart

Rationale (Changed due to New Information)

Selous’ Mongoose is listed as Least Concern since although it is uncommon and likely living at low-density across its range (with possibly fewer than 1,000 mature individuals in the assessment region), it is relatively widespread, and occurs in well-protected savannah woodland and grassland habitats. The expansion of wildlife ranching in Limpopo may have created additional suitable habitat. Although it may be experiencing local declines from dog hunting, snaring, and poisoning, there is no evidence to suggest that this is causing range-wide decline as there are recent records across its distribution. However, camera-trap monitoring should be used to assess occupancy more comprehensively and to estimate densities. This species’ conservation status should be reassessed when better data become available.

Regional population effects: Although this species is on the edge of its range in the assessment region, dispersal is likely across the northern borders and therefore rescue effects are presumably possible.

Distribution

Selous’ Mongoose ranges from Angola in the west to Malawi in the east, with its most southward extension in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa (Skinner & Chimimba 2005; Stuart & Stuart 2013). A recent study found that the species is likely to occur in the Lower Zambezi Protected Area Complex in Zambia (Bird & Mateke 2013). It also occurs in Zimbabwe (except in the northeast) and in Mozambique (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). While it does occur in Namibia, its distribution within the country is marginal and it is only found in the most northeastern reaches of the country (close to the Quito and Okavango rivers) (Skinner & Chimimba 2005).

Within the assessment region, Selous’ Mongooses have been recorded in Limpopo and Mpumalanga eastern lowveld, the Limpopo River Valley and northern KwaZulu-Natal, but sightings are rare. The northeastern KwaZulu-Natal marks their southernmost limit at present (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Camera-trapping studies in the Ka-Ndengeza and Vyeboom villages, Vhembe district (Limpopo Province, South Africa) had numerous detections of this species (L.H. Swanepoel pers. obs. 2014). It has not been recorded from Swaziland (Monadjem 1998; A. Monadjem pers. comm. 2013), but may well occur in the eastern areas of the country (Skinner & Chimimba 2005).

Population trend

Trend

Selous’ Mongoose is generally uncommon, although many parts of its known range have not been well surveyed (Stuart & Stuart 2013). In addition, it can easily be confused with the more common White-tailed Mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda) or the relatively rare Meller’s Mongoose (Rhynchogale melleri). Within the assessment region, there are probably fewer than 1,000 mature individuals but more surveys are needed to estimate population size and trends. However, because there are no major threats to this species, we infer that the population is stable.

Threats

There are no major threats to the species, although we believe that domestic/feral dogs and cats outcompete or even kill Selous’ Mongoose at a local level. It is also suspected that the species is accidentally killed by hunting dogs and caught as bycatch in snares which are intended for other game species, and killed occasionally for perceived predation on poultry.

Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease which can affect the kidneys, has been found in Selous’ Mongoose in Botswana (Jobbins et al. 2014). However, its effect on the species and its South African population are not yet well understood.

Uses and trade

Selous’ Mongoose is not suspected to be utilised in any form. The expansion of wildlife ranching likely created additional suitable and preserved habitat for this species, notably in Limpopo Province.

Conservation

Selous’ Mongoose is known to be present in several protected areas in the assessment region, including Kruger National Park.

There are currently no conservation actions which target this small carnivore. It is recommended to collect more information on its biology and ecology and better evaluate the impact of identified and suspected threats in view of properly determining whether conservation interventions have to be devised and implemented. Until this is achieved, some general conservation interventions will certainly benefit the species.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • Use holistic (selective or non-lethal) control methods for damage-causing animals.
Research priorities:
  • Assessing occupancy and estimating densities in selected areas of this species’ distribution, possibly by means of camera-trapping.
  • More information is required on the species basic biology (e.g. reproduction) and ecology (e.g. home range size, habitat use, activity patterns).
Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Report sightings on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP), especially outside protected areas. As confusion with other mongoose species is possible, a photograph is required for confirmation of identification.

References 

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,]
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