Neotragus batesi

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	CETARTIODACTYLA	BOVIDAE

Scientific Name:

Neotragus batesi

Species Authority:

de Winton, 1903

Common Name/s:

English

–

Bates' Pygmy Antelope, Dwarf Antelope

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group

Reviewer/s:

Mallon, D.P. (Antelope Red List Authority) & Hoffmann, M. (Global Mammal Assessment)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern as the total population is estimated at ~220,000, and is generally considered to be stable. The conservation status of Bates’ Pygmy Antelope should not change as long as extensive areas of the Central African equatorial forests remain sparsely settled, but the prospect of rapid human colonization of these areas during the next few decades could result in greatly increased pressures of hunting and forest destruction.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/near threatened (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Bates' Pygmy Antelope are found in three disjunct regions: southeastern Nigeria, east of the Niger River to the Cross River; south and southeast Cameroon (south of the Sanaga River) to southwestern Central African Republic (west of the Sangha River), Gabon, and northwestern and southwestern Republic of Congo; and northeastern DR Congo, north and east of the Congo-Lualaba, extending marginally into southwestern Uganda (Feer in press).
Countries:	Native: Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Nigeria; Uganda
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species can reach very high densities within localized areas of favourable habitat, e.g., >35.0/km² in an area of coffee and cocoa plantations bordered by secondary forest in northeastern Gabon (Feer 1979). Typical densities over more extensive areas are in the order 1.5-2.2/km² (East 1999, and references therein). East (1999) estimated the total population at 219,000. The population trend is stable over extensive parts of its range where human population densities are low, but shows a tendency to decrease in areas where hunting pressures are very high.
Population Trend:	Stable

Population:

This species can reach very high densities within localized areas of favourable habitat, e.g., >35.0/km² in an area of coffee and cocoa plantations bordered by secondary forest in northeastern Gabon (Feer 1979). Typical densities over more extensive areas are in the order 1.5-2.2/km² (East 1999, and references therein).

East (1999) estimated the total population at 219,000. The population trend is stable over extensive parts of its range where human population densities are low, but shows a tendency to decrease in areas where hunting pressures are very high.

Population Trend:

Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	An inhabitant of moist lowland forest, this species prefers dense, low undergrowth along rivers, tree falls within mature forests, areas regenerating after logging or cultivation, road sides, village-gardens and plantations (Feer in press). They are folivorous, and most often solitary.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Although hunted for bushmeat, they are not commonly found in urban markets (Feer 1979). The species’ dependence on secondary growth and ability to utilize plantations should enable it to withstand degradation of primary forests better than species which are dependent on undisturbed forests. its long-term survival may nevertheless become increasingly dependent on protected areas.

Major Threat(s):

Although hunted for bushmeat, they are not commonly found in urban markets (Feer 1979). The species’ dependence on secondary growth and ability to utilize plantations should enable it to withstand degradation of primary forests better than species which are dependent on undisturbed forests. its long-term survival may nevertheless become increasingly dependent on protected areas.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Major protected-area populations include those in Dja and Lobeke-Mongokele (Cameroon), Monte Alen (Equatorial Guinea), Dzanga-Sangha (Central African Republic), Odzala (Congo), Lope (Gabon), Okapi reserve, Maiko and Kahuzi-Biega (Congo-DRC), and Kibale and Semliki (Uganda).

Conservation Actions:

Major protected-area populations include those in Dja and Lobeke-Mongokele (Cameroon), Monte Alen (Equatorial Guinea), Dzanga-Sangha (Central African Republic), Odzala (Congo), Lope (Gabon), Okapi reserve, Maiko and Kahuzi-Biega (Congo-DRC), and Kibale and Semliki (Uganda).

Citation:	IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2008. Neotragus batesi. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2013.
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