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The destruction and fragmentation of habitats pose severe threats for the future of this extremely rare rabbit. Favourite foods such as the river ganna have been cleared to make way for crops. Nowhere does any of its natural habitat fall within any formally protected areas adding to the vulnerability of the few that are left.
In response to the urgent need to address the rapidly declining population numbers, landowners in the Karoo have established dedicated Riverine Rabbit Conservancies covering an area of approximately 200 000 ha of private farmland.
The Riverine Rabbit is critically endangered and with less than 250 mature individuals estimated left in the wild today, the species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction. The species is endemic to the Karoo and because it only occurs on private farmland its survival lies in the hands of private landowners.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) Riverine Rabbit Working Group co-ordinates the conservation efforts for the Riverine Rabbit and its habitat. Besides representatives of statutory and non-statutory institutions the group comprises
private landowners who are critical role-players in the conservation of the rabbit. Many other plant and animal species benefit from the conservation of the rabbit and the sustainable management of the river zones will provide social-economic benefits for the region in the future.
How can you assist in saving the Riverine Rabbit from extinction ?
Please, contact us if you require more information on the species or if you think you have seen a Riverine Rabbit. It would be important for us to receive detailed information on date, time and locality of your sighting.
Should you find a carcass in the veld or perhaps on the back roads of the Karoo please keep it refrigerated but don’t freeze it. If possible contact us immediately. Dead samples are used for genetic analysis.(PLEASE DON’T KILL ANY RABBIT FOR THIS PURPOSE.)
Keep in mind that the Riverine Rabbit is a very shy and highly threatened species and any disturbance in his environment can do great harm to the animal, especially during the breeding season from August until May !
Help us to increase awareness on this unique mammal and its threatened habitat in the Karoo by informing your family, friends and colleagues !
For more information contact the Endangered Wildlife Trust by visiting their web site at https://www.ewt.org.za/homepage.aspx
The Leopard, Panthera pardus is the apex 
predator in the Western Cape and is at the heart of Leopard conservation in the Karoo. This magnificent cat is one of the few animals still found in the wild in South Africa and the Cape is priviledged to have one of the big five still running wild in the mountains of our province. Since 2007 The Cape Leopard Trust has actively conducted research and conservation activities in the Cederberg aimed at conserving and protecting the Leopard in this region. The Cape Leopard Trust aims at monitoring the Cederberg leopard population as a long-term project. To date, research has taken place primarily in the Cederberg Mountains, which have been declared a World Heritage Site and is now also part of the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor(GCBC).
A further project has now been established in the Swartberg/Gamka Corridor as well as in the Namaqualand region of South Africa. This brings Leopard conservation in the Karoo to a new level. The Swartberg/Gamka Corridor links the Central Karoo region with the Cederberg Mountain Region. This is an exciting development as it validates the existence and conservation of the Cape Leopard in the Karoo. This brings to mind the motorist who encountered a Leopard in the Huis Rivier Pass on the R62 between Ladismith and Calitzdorp just a few years ago. By all accounts from farmers in the area, Leopards are alive and well in the Swartberg range from Oudtshoorn to Ladismith and are known to range across to Rooiberg near Van Wyk’s Dorp. This is the heart of the Klein Karoo and it leaves one feeling both honored and responsible knowing that one of South Africa’s big five still frequents the mountains which we literally see every day.
The Leopard is however not the most loved of wildlife animals. Responsible for a reasonable amount of stock loss, The Cape Leopard Trust works closely with farmers who are likely to encounter Leopard predation. The objective of finding solutions for farmers who encounter problems with Leopards in their area includes encouraging the view that the tourism and conservation value of Leopards exceeds the perceived threat to livestock. The hard work has paid positive dividends in the Cederberg in particular.
Since August 2005, the Cape Leopard Trust has been involved in 30 leopard captures for research purposes. No animals were relocated. Thirteen individual adult leopards have been collared and monitored using GPS collars. These transmitter devises collect data on the Leopards activity and movements which assists specifically in finding better ways of managing predator/land owner relationships. The mean number of fixes from each collared animal is 1780; while the average length of time leopards have been collared is 12months. Four of the resident leopards have been recaptured and collared with new collars after batteries expired. During the 7yr research period, only 2 leopards have been killed due to farmer-predator conflict. This is a far cry from an average of 7 leopards per year before the project began. Much of the success is due to the amazing support of the Cederberg Conservancy and Cape Nature.
Karoo Places.com hopes to report more specifically on Leopard conservation in the Karoo region in the next few weeks. We invite you to contribute with relevant information and stories. For more information please view the video feature in the right hand column or visit The Cape Leopard Trust.
