Rationale
(Changed due to Not applicable)
The regional population of African Finfoot Podica senegalensis is limited to an AoO of c. 560 km2 and the species is believed to be undergoing a continuing decline in the area, extent and quality of its habitat. Notwithstanding the fact that it is elusive and possibly under-recorded, the regional population is believed to number less than 1 000 mature individuals and is likely to experience a continuing decline of at least 10% within the next three generations. The species is therefore classified as regionally Vulnerable.
Distribution
The African Finfoot occurs throughout central and western Africa, although it is absent from the drier North and East African regions. In southern Africa, it occurs from the eastern Caprivi in Namibia through most of Zimbabwe, where it is localised but widespread. It is largely absent from Okavango Delta in Botswana, possibly due to the static nature of water-flow there, the nutrient-poor nature of the system and the fact that tree cover is usually far from the floodplain (Chittenden 2005). It is rare in central and southern Mozambique (Parker 1999, Chittenden 2005).
Within the region, the African Finfoot is distributed throughout low-lying parts of northern and eastern South Africa and Swaziland, and along the coast. It is perhaps most common on large, east-flowing rivers of the Lowveld, including the Luvuvhu, lower Olifants, Letaba, Sabie, (eastern) Crocodile and Komati rivers. It is localised and less numerous in the interior, occurring on the upper Olifants, Pienaar's, (western) Crocodile, Hennops, Magalies, Skeerpoort and Palala-Limpopo rivers (Tarboton et al. 1987). In addition, it was recorded along the Mogalakwena, Marico and Wilge rivers during SABAP2.
Despite earlier records from the Vaal and Renoster rivers and Vredespruit in Free State (Colahan et al. 1995), it was not recorded there during SABAP2. The species is relatively numerous in Zululand in northern KwaZulu-Natal and along wooded drainages in coastal KwaZulu-Natal. It was recorded in scattered locations in Eastern Cape, with a concentration of records around East London. The westernmost record was from the vicinity of Mossel Bay in Western Cape.
In contrast with the small change in EoO shown for this species, the SABAP2 data indicate that it has undergone a marked decrease in AoO. During SABAP2, it was recorded in 80 quarter degree grid cells (at the time of writing), which suggests a maximum range of 56 000 km2. However, Barnes and Parker (2000) estimated that less than 1% of the surface area of the grid cells in which this species occurs represents its highly localised and specialised riverine habitat; accordingly, a modified estimate suggests that its AoO is less than 560 km2, representing a c. 22% decrease in AoO. However, the African Finfoot is secretive, quiet and inconspicuous, and thus easily overlooked, and may be more numerous than current atlas records indicate (Tarboton et al. 1987).
Population
The global population has not been quantified (BirdLife International 2014). The African Finfoot is highly localised due to its specialised habitat requirements, and is nowhere common. The total regional population was estimated at 500-1 000 birds (Barnes and Parker 2000), of which 10-20% occur in Kruger National Park. Smaller populations are resident in scattered localities, although isolated records may represent vagrants or dispersing birds, as this species is known to colonise new areas rapidly (Chittenden 2005). The population in Swaziland was estimated at 20 breeding pairs or c. 40 birds (Parker 1994). The species is rare in adjacent southern Mozambique, where its population is estimated at less than 100 birds (Parker 1999). The current regional population is less than 1 000 mature individuals. Confidence in this estimate is low.
Population trend
Because of its highly specialised habitat requirements, the African Finfoot is a naturally rare and localised species. A modified estimate of its effective AoO, taking into account the finfoot's strict ecological preferences, suggests that its current regional range is very limited (less than 560 km2). In addition, the range appears to have decreased by c. 22% in the last 2-3 decades since SABAP1 surveys commenced. The regional population is therefore thought to be declining, based on reductions in range and continued threats to its sensitive habitat. The rate of this decline is not known, but is likely to be at least 10% within the next three generations. Confidence in this estimate is medium. Similar decreases are detectable in other riverine specialists that co-occur with the African Finfoot, such as White-backed Night Heron Gorsachius leuconotus, Pel's Fishing Owl Scotopelia peli, and Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata.
Threats
The African Finfoot is threatened primarily by a reduction of water flow through commercial afforestation of catchment areas, damming and water extraction, as well as degradation and clearing of riverine vegetation, and increased salt and silt loads in rivers because of erosion (Barnes and Parker 2000). In addition, pesticide contamination may lead to primary poisoning, secondary poisoning through eating affected prey, and reductions in prey availability. Increased human settlement, cultivation along rivers and the acute water shortages facing South Africa suggest that this species' woes are set to continue for the foreseeable future. Locally, its sensitive habitat may be degraded through trampling and damaging by both domestic livestock and wild game, particularly African Elephants Loxodonta africana. The species is hunted and traded in the traditional medicine industry elsewhere in its range, but whether this is a significant threat in the region is unknown and should be investigated.
Conservation
Underway
No species-specific measures are currently underway, but the African Finfoot occurs in several large conservation areas where it is adequately protected. However, external factors such as soil erosion in river catchments, damming and excessive water abstraction upstream and outside of conservation areas, are still likely to impact negatively upon this species.
Proposed
Long-term survival of the African Finfoot and other aquatic and riverine species will ultimately depend on effective management of rivers and riverine vegetation at the ecosystem-level through national, provincial and municipal initiatives. Particular attention should be paid to protection of riverine vegetation, and measures to reduce siltation and excessive abstraction, and reduce human disturbance, would benefit this species (Barnes and Parker 2000). In the short-term, the species is probably dependent on existing protected areas. A full census of suitable river systems should be conducted to modify current population estimates, determine linear densities and investigate exact habitat requirements; such efforts could simultaneously contribute to research on other co-occurring riverine specialists.
Research
* Conduct surveys of river systems to obtain estimates of population size and occurrence densities.
* Research the nature and severity of threats to the species and its habitat; investigate effects of e.g. clearance of alien trees along rivers, infestation of waterways by alien fish and other foreign species, amphibian declines and other potential threats.
