The Western Cape supports 126 types (or taxa) of land-based mammals and 27 types of marine mammals. Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, as well as invasive alien species, are the most severe threats to the mammals of the province. Twenty-three of the 153 taxa are listed as Threatened in the South African Red Data Book. Three are Critically Endangered, i.e. on the verge of extinction. Seven are Endangered, 13 are Vulnerable and 10 are Near Threatened. Although not as rich in large mammal fauna as some of the other provinces, some very special taxa can be seen when visiting CapeNature reserves. Eight of the province’s mammals are found nowhere else in the world. One of these, the bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus), is an example of a conservation success story. These striking brown and white antelope are easily spotted when visiting De Hoop Nature Reserve. Other charismatic species to be found on our provincial reserves are the Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) and the Critically Endangered riverine rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis).

Photo: Cape Mountain Zebra at Gamkaberg Nature Reserve 

Photo: Cape Mountain Zebra Family Group 

Of the 149 reptile taxa in the Western Cape (excluding the marine turtles), 14% occur only in this province. Seven taxa are considered to be regionally threatened. Three of these are tortoises, including the Critically Endangered geometric tortoise (Psammobates geometricus). Two taxa are Endangered and four are Vulnerable. Many reptile species do not tolerate habitat transformation. There are still several undescribed species in the province which need conservation assessment.

Geometric tortoise Psammobates geometricus (Critically Endangered)

The geometric tortoise occurs only in the low-lying renosterveld shrublands of the Swartland, Upper Breede River Valley and Ceres Valley. Itis a flagship species for the conservation of the few remaining fragments of renosterveld in an area where wheat and wine farming, as well as urban development, have led to the destruction of more than 90% of the species’ habitat. CapeNature partners with the Southern African Tortoise Conservation Trust to monitor and protect the species and to secure additional habitat for it. This includes the innovative use of a detection dog to locate the well-camouflaged tortoises.

Photo: Tortoise

There are 41 types of indigenous freshwater fish in the Western Cape. Thirty-three of these occur only in this province, and 22 are threatened. Species that are considered to be Critically Endangered are a new species of slender galaxias (Galaxias sp. nov. ‘slender’) and four species of redfin minnow: Barrydale redfin (Pseudobarbus burchelli), Krom River redfin (Pseudobarbus senticeps), Doring River redfin (P. ‘phlegethon Doring’) and Twee River redfin (Sedercypris erubescens). The primary threat to the indigenous fishes of the Western Cape is the presence of invasive alien species, followed by habitat degradation and destruction due to unsound land use practices and water over-abstraction and pollution.

Over 55000 invertebrate species have been described in South Africa. The invertebrate fauan of the Western Cape is equally rich, with 300 known types of butterflies, 965 arachnids, 84 dragonflies and damselflies, and 156 net-winged insects. Despite being under-represented in studies of African diversity, invertebrates are significant contributors to ecosystem processes such as primary production, nutrient recycling, predation, herbivory and competition. Only a few invertebrate groups in South Africa are understood well enough to allow for an assessment of their threat status. These include the butterflies (Lepidoptera, 32 of 300 taxa in the Western Cape threatened) and the dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata, seven of 78 Western Cape taxa threatened). Approximately 27% of bee species are endemic to the province and each of the 17 species of the wingless stag beetle (genus Colophon) of the Lucanidae is restricted to a single mountain peak in the Western Cape.

Photos: dragonflies, stag beetle / goliath beetle