Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Ara Monadjem David Jacobs Kate MacEwan Lientjie Cohen Leigh Rosanne Richards Corrie Schoeman Theresa Sethusa Peter Taylor
Contributors: Claire Relton Domitilla Raimondo Matthew Child
Reviewers: Ara Monadjem David Jacobs Lientjie Cohen Kate MacEwan Leigh Rosanne Richards Corrie Shoeman Theresa Sethusa Peter Taylor

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution (in the assessment region alone the EOO is 1392522 km2), its large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category

Distribution

This species is widespread and abundant over much of sub-Saharan Africa. It has been recorded from Guinea Bissau in the west, to Somalia, southern Sudan and Eritrea in the east, ranging south throughout most of southern Africa (ACR 2015). In the assessment region, the species is widespread and common, occurring in all provinces of South Africa and also in Lesotho and Swaziland. The type specimen is from Grahamstown (Monadjem et al. 2010). The estimated extent of occurrence is 1,392,522 km².

Population trend

Trend

In general, this is a locally common species (ACR 2015) and is well represented in museums with over 800 specimens examined in Monadjem et al. (2010). Its use of buildings and other anthropogenic structures as roosts has possibly led to its numbers increasing. Earlier accounts of this species indicated it roosts singly or in groups of two or three individuals, which appears to be the case when it rests in natural roosts. However, it is now often found roosting in buildings in larger groups of males and females. For example, in Zimbabwe large colonies of at least 100 individuals were observed roosting in houses (see Monadjem et al. 2010).

Threats

Globally, there are no major threats to the species. However, several N. capensis mortalities have been confirmed due to wind turbines in the Eastern Cape, and wind energy is now the single most severe threat to this species (Photo 1). For example, over one year (March 2011 – March 2012), ten individuals were recorded to have been killed as a result of a wind turbine on the east side of the Coega River (Doty & Martin 2013). This threat should be monitored for its impacts on local populations.

Uses and trade

There is no evidence to suggest that this species is traded or harvested within the assessment region.

Conservation

It is a widespread and adaptable species and occurs in numerous protected areas across the assessment region. There are no direct conservation interventions currently needed for this species as a whole. However, taxonomic research may reveal several cryptic species, which will require a re-examination of regional threats and possible interventions. To mitigate mortalities from turbine collisions on wind farms, interventions such as using ultrasound to deter bats and curtailing turbines at low wind speeds could be employed (Baerwald et al. 2009; Berthinussen et al. 2010; Arnett et al. 2011).

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • Data sharing by wind farm managers into a national database is needed to be able to calculate cumulative impacts and thereafter implement collaborative mitigation and management efforts.
Research priorities:
  • Monitoring mortalities linked with wind farm operations and assessing impact on populations.
  • Taxonomic resolution is required to disentangle this possible species complex.
Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Citizens can assist the conservation of the species by reporting sightings on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP).

References 

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