Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Terry Robinson Claire Relton Matthew Child
Contributors: Lizanne Roxburgh Andrew Smith
Reviewers: Terry Robinson Claire Relton Matthew Child

Rationale

The Lepus species in South Africa occur widely within the assessment region in many habitats that are protected and/or unlikely to be extensively transformed. Ongoing molecular research is urgently required to resolve their taxonomic statuses and relationships so as to delimit their geographical ranges, and thus threat severity, more accurately. These species may require reassessment when such data are available (see above). The Cape Hare (L. capensis) is common in suitable habitats. For example, on Benfontein Game Farm, Kimberley, Northern Cape, density has been estimated as 16.5 individuals / km2.

Although local declines may be occurring due to overhunting for bushmeat in some areas, there is no evidence to suggest a widespread population decline. Likewise, L. saxatilis as here defined (sensu stricto) is relatively abundant in the Western and Northern Cape provinces (and in protected areas in these regions) but there is no detailed information available. Additionally, the ongoing conversion from livestock to wildlife ranching is likely providing more suitable habitat for these species in South Africa, especially for the African Savannah Hare (L. victoriae), which occurs widely in the northeastern regions of the assessment region. Thus, the Least Concern listing is retained for all three species until taxonomic resolution and population data suggest otherwise.

Regional population effects: Taxonomic revision is required to substantiate the geographical range limits of Lepus species in southern Africa.

Distribution

Lepus capensis has an extensive but scattered distribution across southern, eastern and northern Africa, occurring in Mediterranean, Coastal, Sahel, Savannah and southern African biotic zones (Ellerman & Morrison-Scott 1951; Ellerman et al. 1953; Palacios et al. 2008; Happold 2013c). However, further taxonomic delineation will improve our understanding of its geographical distribution. Currently, there is a gap in its distribution as it does not occur in Malawi, southern Tanzania, northern Zimbabwe and parts of Mozambique (Happold 2013c). It is restricted to non-forested regions (Boitani et al. 1999). There appears to be an isolated population in Botswana near the Makagadikadi Pans (Boitani et al. 1999; Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Within the assessment region, the Cape Hare occurs extensively across the Northern and Western Cape, into the western North West Province, across much of the Free State, western Lesotho, Swaziland and marginally into the northwestern parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Since this species moves into burnt areas when grasses begin to sprout, its range has expanded with increased levels of bush clearance and fires across Africa (Happold 2013c).

The distribution of L. saxatilis is uncertain, but is currently considered almost endemic to South Africa (and more precisely, the the extreme western and southwestern regions of the country) (Robinson & Matthee 2005; Robinson in press). It may extend marginally into southern Namibia (Boitani et al. 1999), but this needs further sampling to be proved. For example, numbers fall off markedly in the vicinity of Springbok northwards towards Namibia (T. Robinson unpubl. data), after which it is most likely replaced by L. capensis. While L. saxatilis (sensu lato) has been reported as occurring in Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and the central and northern interior of South Africa (Kryger et al. 2004b; Collins et al. 2008), only the southwestern population (in the Western and Northern Cape provinces) is recognised by Happold (2013a) as belonging to L. saxatilis (sensu stricto). Populations throughout the rest of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho are referred to as L. cf. saxatilis (Happold 2013a). The uncertain taxonomy undermines geographical delimitation at present. Additionally, many records remain dubious as it is difficult to distinguish between L. saxatilis and L. capensis in the field, making the northern boundary of its range uncertain (Happold 2013a). Lepus saxatilis and L. victoriae are conventionally viewed as allopatric (Happold 2013a), where L. saxatilis corresponds to the larger southern African form (Flux & Angermann 1990) and L. victoriae refers to the smaller northern forms (Kryger et al. 2004b).

Lepus victoriae has an extensive African distribution, which extends along the Atlantic coast (Guinea, The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania and Western Sahara), across the Sahel and into western Kenya and Ethiopia, southwards to South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia (Hoffmann & Smith 2005; Smith & Johnston 2008). Additionally, an isolated population has been located in western Algeria (Flux & Angermann 1990; Hoffmann & Smith 2005). However, taxonomic uncertainty again limits confidence in geographical distribution with Happold (2013b) stating that the species is not found in southern Africa (being instead replaced by L. saxatilis). Currently, we assume a sympatric distribution with L. capensis and/or L. cf. saxatilis (see above) within the assessment region, where is occurs in the northeastern parts of the country, including the North West, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo provinces, as well as the easterly regions of the Eastern Cape Province.

Taxonomic resolution and vetting of museum records through molecular research is needed urgently to resolve the tentative geographical ranges.

Population trend

Trend

Lepus capensis is probably the most abundant Lepus species in Africa, with densities ranging from 4.7–24.8 hares / km2 in South Africa alone (Happold 2013c). For example, on Benfontein Game Farm, Northern Cape, density has been estimated as 16.5 individuals / km2 (Stenkewitz et al. 2010). No detailed population or density estimates are available for L. saxatilis but it is considered common in South Africa (Happold 2013a). Similarly, no detailed population or density estimates are available for L. victoriae but it is considered a successful and common species (Flux & Angermann 1990; Smith & Johnston 2008).

Lepus species overall generally exhibit a fast population turnover and a high rate of reproduction (Kryger et al. 2004b). While a slow decline has been predicted due to habitat loss and hunting pressure (Kryger et al. 2004a), it is expected that land conversion from livestock to wildlife may benefit Lepus species and counteract population declines by creating and reconnecting suitable habitat patches. However, the status of scattered subpopulations and isolated subspecies is largely unknown, and may be threatened. For example, populations are fragmented in the Western Cape Province, and within South Africa’s central grassland regions.

Threats

Across their range, as well as within the assessment region, Lepus species are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation as a result of urban sprawl, agricultural encroachment, commercial plantations, and infrastructure development for tourism (Drew et al. 2004; Kryger et al. 2004a). Additionally, these species are threatened by hunting pressure through both recreational sport hunting, as well as subsistence hunting for bushmeat and fur (Kryger et al. 2004a). While agricultural and urban expansion may not necessarily cause direct declines, they may increase hunting pressures. Hunting pressure is likely to cause local subpopulation declines. For example, drastic population declines have been observed in KwaZulu-Natal, specifically in Harding and Port Shepstone in southern KwaZulu-Natal (Kryger et al. 2004a). Lepus species may also be vulnerable to predation by domestic dogs associated with farming areas. The near-endemic L. saxatilis may be threatened by intensive agricultural expansion and overhunting in the Western Cape (Happold 2013a), but monitoring data are required to demonstrate this.

Uses and trade

Lepus species are hunted recreationally for sport, bushmeat and fur at a subsistence level in the assessment region. However, this is not expected to have a substantial effect on the population. Both L. capensis and L. saxatilis were listed as species utilised for traditional medicine in South Africa, as they are believed to have medicinal or curative properties (Maliehe 1993; Ntiamoa-Baidu 1997).

Conservation

Lepus species are widely distributed across the assessment region, occurring within numerous protected areas, including both formally and privately protected areas (Kryger et al. 2004a). A call for sustainable utilisation of these species is recommended (Kryger et al. 2004a), as they may constitute a low-carbon source of protein and may economically benefit local communities and landowners (Asibey 1974). The development of conservancies to protect appropriate habitats for local subspecies and forms is recommended. Taxonomic resolution at a species and subspecies level is required for the Lepus genus to ensure that localised or isolated populations and subspecies are conserved. Research into the ecology of L. victoriae is lacking and is restricted to localised regions of its distribution (Boitani et al. 1999), thus further investigations are necessary.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • This species would benefit from suitable land management: land owners should retain corridors of grassland between grazed areas and decrease stocking rates to avoid overgrazing and the loss of grass cover.
Research priorities:
  • Taxonomic revision of the Lepus genus, including the identification of isolated populations and localised subspecies.
  • Survey studies to effectively document the distributional limits and geographical overlap of species and subspecies.
  • Population size and trends.
  • Effects of wildlife ranching on Lepus species within the assessment region.
Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Landowners should create conservancies to utilise this species sustainably.
  • Refrain from having too many dogs on farms.
  • Report sightings of free-roaming individuals on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP), especially outside protected areas to enhance the distribution maps.

References 

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,]
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