RIVERINE RABBIT PROGRAMME

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The Riverine Rabbit Programme (EWT-RRP) was established in August 2003 and is delegating and coordinating all conservation efforts on the critically endangered Riverine Rabbit and its habitat. The programme is one of a few non-governmental conservation institution based and operating in the Great and Klein Karoo region (Nama and Succulent Karoo) and understands its critical role in future conservation, environmental education, in building capacity and leaders in previously disadvantaged local communities of the Karoo. Due to the remote location of the Karoo it is a challenge for the EWT-RRP to engage future multidisciplinary research and to link with existing conservation, environmental education and research initiatives. The Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis) is endemic to the semi-arid Great Karoo and parts of the Klein Karoo of South Africa and one of the most endangered terrestrial mammals of Southern Africa. With an estimation of a few hundred animals being left in the wild today the species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction !




The Vision


The Riverine Rabbit Programme's vision is an ecosystem and socio economic conditions in the Karoo that can support a stable population of Riverine Rabbits along the seasonal river courses of the Karoo region. The programme aims to conserve the biodiversity of the Karoo region, to encourage private landowners in participating in conservation stewardship and to promote integrated land management practices that can sustain the Riverine Rabbit, its habitat and many other species while ensuring socio-economic benefits to landowners and communities. The species functions as the Flagship Species of the Karoo.

The Mission

The Riverine Rabbit Programme aims to conserve one of Southern Africa’s most threatened small terrestrial mammals, the Riverine Rabbit, by undertaking transect surveys and habitat evaluation and mapping exercises, environmental education and awareness, habitat management and rehabilitation, conservation stewardship programmes, population and habitat monitoring, research within the distribution range of the species as well as publicity.


(Photo: Tony Camacho)

The EWT-RRP consists of various national and international stakeholders and role players such as Cape Nature, Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation, SANParks, Karoo National Park, Department of Agriculture of the Western Cape, private landowners, Zoological Society for the Conservation and Populations (ZGAP e.V.), WWF-SA, Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), IUCN/SSC Lagomorph Specialist Group, Department of Zoology of the University of Stellenbosch, Mammal Research Institute of the University of Pretoria and Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology of the University of the Western Cape.

Conservation status of the Riverine Rabbit

The Riverine Rabbit is one of Southern Africa's most threatened mammals and was re-assessed and upgraded from ENDANGERED to CRITICALLY ENDANGERED in 2002. The species is listed as such in the new edition of the Red Data Book of the Mammals of South Africa (2004). In the eighties it was suggested that the remaining suitable habitat might, theoretically, support a maximum of 1435 rabbits. The species’ assessment in 2002 suggested that the population size is to be not much more than a few hundred animals. However, new isolated populations have since been found in the Western Cape near Barrydale, Montagu, Touwsrivier, Klaarstroom and Prince Albert.  At present, no accurate data on the species’ population size are available. None of the Riverine Rabbit habitat is protected within a provincial nature reserve or national park and the species only occurs on private Karoo farmland.

(Photo: Roland Seitre)

Distribution range and habitat of the Riverine Rabbit

The Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis) is endemic to the semi-arid Great Karoo and parts of the Klein Karoo region of South Africa and recent transect survey results indicate that its current distribution range falls into both the Nama and the Succulent Karoo. The Succulent Karoo in particular is, with more than 5 000 species of succulent plants, the richest succulent flora in the world and one of 25 internationally recognized biodiversity hotspots. The Riverine Rabbit functions as the flagship species for these ecoregions as well as a key indicator species for the river ecosystems of the Karoo as its regional extinction in many areas of its former natural distribution range is indicative of the degraded status of the riverbanks along the perennial Karoo rivers.

Within its distribution area the rabbit occupies a very restricted and specialized niche – the discontinuous and dense vegetation on soft and nutrient-rich alluvial soils associated with the seasonal rivers of the Karoo. The Riverine Rabbit is a habitat specialist occupying habitat that is also of economic importance to landowners in terms of cultivation and small stock grazing. As a result of a higher moisture and nutrient content, these riverine areas provide good grazing long after most of the other grazing resources are depleted during the dry season and during drought. In addition, only the alluvial soils along the riverbanks allow crop cultivation in the sparsely covered and rocky Karoo plains. The Riverine Rabbit functions a key indicator species for these critical river zones as its regional extinction in many areas of its former natural distribution range is indicative of the degradation, fragmentation and loss of riverine vegetation caused by overutilization, cultivation and transformation of river channels.

Karoo river ecosystems

The destruction of the riverine vegetation cover also has a negative impact on the Karoo's ground water reserves. Most of the farm settlements in the rabbit’s distribution area are located along the seasonal rivers. Groundwater is pumped and utilized for irrigation, stock watering and domestic needs. Only a stable and healthy riverine vegetation cover is facilitating infiltration and groundwater storage, rather than the runoff of rain water on eroded riverbanks. Intact river ecosystems support a continual replenishment of the groundwater reserves which are critical to the permanent settlement of the area and assist in reversing the aridification process in the Karoo.

Threats to the species and its unique habitat

- Riverbank degradation and riverine habitat destruction, fragmentation and loss through overgrazing resulting in loss of ground cover and soil erosion.

- Riverine habitat fragmentation and loss through cultivation on alluvial soils along the riverbanks. A combination of cultivated lands and impoundments in the river channel can cut off riverine habitat completely and be a complete barrier to the Riverine Rabbit’s dispersal.

- Fire wood collection through the whole year poses another severe threat to riverine vegetation.

- Alien invaders and bush encroachment are a severe threat to the river ecosystems in the Karoo.

 

- Illegal hunting with the use of dogs as well as the use of leghold (gin traps) still pose the main direct threats to the Riverine Rabbit. Although distinctive, most people are not aware of the external features of hare and rabbit species that occur in the Karoo. This might not be a problem for Red Rock Rabbits, Cape Hares and Srub Hares but brought the Riverine Rabbit to the brink of extinction ! The species has already disappeared on several farms due to illegal traditional hunting methods of the farm labourers.

 

Conservation strategies for the Riverine Rabbit and its habitat

All conservation efforts for the Riverine Rabbit and its habitat are coordinated by the Riverine Rabbit Programme (EWT-RRP). A EWT-RRP Conservation Management Plan has been developed which identifies seven different conservation programmes. The report of the Riverine Rabbit Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) Workshop is used by the group as a species conservation guideline. This important workshop was the first of its kind dedicated to the conservation of the Riverine Rabbit. It was held in 2000 and funded by the IUCN SSC Sir Peter Scott Action Fund, Philadelphia Zoo, Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP e.V.) and the Zoological Garden Berlin. Since 2000 awareness of the threatened status of the Riverine Rabbit and its habitat has increased enormously in South Africa as well as abroad. In addition, the EWT-RRP is currently developing a draft of a management plan for Riverine Rabbit Conservancies in accordance with the National Environment Management – Biodiversity Act as well as in partnership with landowners, farmers and the provincial conservation authorities.

How to distinguish a Riverine Rabbit from other South African Lagomorphs

Both, rabbits and hares belong to the order Lagomorpha and to the family Leporidae but they are categorized in two different genera. In the Karoo two hare species, the Cape Hare (Lepus capensis) and Scrub Hare (Lepus saxatilis) are found and two rabbit species, the Hewitt's Red Rock Rabbit (Pronolagus saundersiae) and the Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis). Differences between rabbits and hares are as follows: rabbits are born blind, hairless and immobile and are therefore totally dependant on their mother after birth. Compared to this hare offspring is born with open eyes, fully furred and active within 48h after birth.

Features of the Riverine Rabbit (Scientific name: Bunolagus monticularis; Afrikaans: Oewer Konyn, Doekvoetjie, Vleihaas, Boshaas; historical name: Pondhaas):

(Photo: Tony Camacho)

• dark brown stripe along the lower jaw towards the ear base
• white eye-ring
• red-brown nuchal patch behind ears
• long ears
• upperparts dark brown and black flecked
• underparts light brown (no white !)
• uniformly brown tail

Features of the Hewitt’s Red Rock Rabbit (Scientific name: Pronolagus saundersiae; Rooi Klipkonyn, Rooigathaas):

(Photo: CT Stuart)

• much shorter ears than hares and the riverine rabbit
• rump & back legs bright red-brown
• tail dark red-brown with black tip
• no white eye ring

Features of the Cape Hare (Scientific name: Lepus capensis; Afrikaans: Vlakhaas)

(Photo: CT Stuart)

• long ears
• fluffy white and black tail
• upperparts light brown and black-flecked
• salt and pepper effect
• underparts: white

Features of the Scrub Hare (Scientific name: Lepus saxatilis; Afrikaans: Kolhaas, Ribokhaas)

(Photo: CT Stuart)

• like the cape hare the scrub hare varies considerably in size from area to area, although the scrub hare is generally larger than the cape hare
• long ears
• fluffy white and black tail
• upperparts varies; brown-grey to grey; black-flecked (salt and pepper effect)
• underparts: white throughout
• "kol" = spot - white spot on the forehead of most, but not all, individuals

How can you assist the RRP in saving the Riverine Rabbit from extinction?

• Please, contact us if you require more information on the species, its habitat and our conservation efforts
• Please, contact us as soon as you have seen a Riverine Rabbit or you thought you have seen one. It would be important to us to receive detailed information from you on date, time and locality of your sighting.
• Please, should you find a carcass in the veld or perhaps on the back roads of the Karoo keep it refrigerated (don’t freeze it !) if possible and contact us immediately ! We need any sample of the species we can get for our genetic analysis. BUT PLEASE DON”T KILL ANY RABBIT FOR THIS PURPOSE !
• Please, 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 !
• Please, help us to increase awareness on this unique mammal and its threatened habitat in South Africa by informing your family, friends and colleagues !

Any donation you want to make will directly contribute to our efforts to conserve the Riverine Rabbit and its habitat !