Bunolagus monticularis

– Critically Endangered

Taxonomy

Kingdom:

ANIMALIA

Phylum:

CHORDATA

Class:

MAMMALIA

Order:

LAGOMORPHA

Family:

LEPORIDAE

Scientific Name:

Bunolagus monticularis

Species Authority:

(Thomas, 1903)

Common Name/s:

English

—

BUSHMAN HARE, RIVERINE RABBIT

Assessment Information

Red List Category & Criteria:

CR C2a(i) ver 3.1 (2001)

Year Assessed:

2003

Assessor/s:

Collins, K., Ahlman, V., Matthee, C., Taylor, P., Keith, M. & Van Jaarsveld, A. (South Africa CAMP Workshop, March 2002)

Evaluator/s:

Dobson, F.S. & Smith, A.T. (Lagomorph Red List Authority)

Justification:

Bunolagus monticularis was previously assessed as Endangered, based on past population declines with further declines expected. Population size is now estimated to be fewer than 250 mature individuals. With ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation, and direct threats to the species from trapping, feral cats and dogs, and hunting pressure, the population is expected to continue to decline. Assessed as Critically Endangered using the RAMAS® Red List software package.

History:

1986	-	Endangered (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)
1988	-	Endangered (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1990	-	Endangered (IUCN 1990)
1994	-	Endangered (Groombridge 1994)
1996	-	Endangered (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range

Range Description:	Bunolagus monticularis is endemic to the central Karoo region of South Africa.
Countries:	Native: South Africa (Northern Cape Province, Western Cape Province)

Population

Population:	Evidence suggests that the population size is currently declining. It is estimated that over the last 70 years the population has declined by at least 60%. The population is fragmented, with no subpopulation containing more than 50 individuals.
Population Trend:

Habitat and Ecology

Habitat and Ecology:

The riverine rabbit inhabits dense riparian growth along the seasonal rivers (dense shrubs on alluvial floodplain soils) in the central Karoo Region.

System:

Terrestrial

List of Habitats:

3.5	Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry

Threats

Threats:

Loss and degradation of habitat is the main threat to the species. 50–80% of habitat has been lost over the last century as a result of cultivation and livestock farming. Other threats to the species include hunting (the rabbit is hunted for sport and by farm workers) and accidental mortality in traps set for pest animals on farmlands.

List of Threats:

1.1.3	Habitat Loss/Degradation - Agriculture - Non-timber plantations (past, present)
1.1.4	Habitat Loss/Degradation - Agriculture - Livestock (ongoing)
1.3.3.1	Habitat Loss/Degradation - Extraction - Wood - Small-scale subsistence (ongoing)
3.5	Harvesting (hunting/gathering) - Cultural/scientific/leisure activities (ongoing)
4.1.2.1	Accidental mortality - Bycatch - Terrestrial - Trapping/snaring/netting (ongoing)

Conservation Actions

Conservation Actions:

Bunolagus monticularis is listed as Endangered in the 1986 South African National Red Data Book, and there is a genetic study of the species underway. At the CBSG CAMP South Africa workshop, conservation actions recommended included further research into the life history of this species, management of habitat, the wild population, captive breeding and increased public awareness.

List of Conservation Actions:

1.2.1.2	Policy-based actions - Legislation - Development - National level (in place)
2.2	Communication and Education - Awareness (in place, needed)
4.1	Habitat and site-based actions - Maintenance/Conservation (needed)
5.4	Species-based actions - Recovery management (needed)
5.7.1	Species-based actions - Ex situ conservation actions - Captive breeding/Artificial propagation (needed)

Bibliography

Bibliography:

Baillie, J. and Groombridge, B. (compilers and editors) 1996. 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.

Chapman, J.A. and Flux, J.E.C. (compilers and editors) 1990. Rabbits, Hares, and Pikas: a Status Survey and Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Lagomorph Specialist Group. IUCN/SSC, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Coetzee, K. 1994. The Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis) and its habitat: Conservation implications of an unnaturally fragmented distribution. M Tech. Diploma. Port Elizabeth Technicon, South Africa.

Collins, K. 2000. A population Viability Analysis for the Riverine Rabbit, Bunolagus monticularis. Honours Thesis. University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Collins, K. 2001. Habitat availablility for the Riverine Rabbit, Bunolagus monticularis. MSc Thesis. University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Duthie, A.G. 1989. The ecology of the riverine rabbit Bunolagus monticularis. MSc thesis. University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Groombridge, B. (ed.) 1994. 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.

IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1986. 1986 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1988. 1988 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN. 1990. 1990 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN. 2003. 2003 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 18 November 2003.

Lagomorph Specialist Group. For more information, see the Specialist Group website

Citation:	Collins, K., Ahlman, V., Matthee, C., Taylor, P., Keith, M. & Van Jaarsveld, A. 2003. Bunolagus monticularis. In: IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 30 August 2008.
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