Critically Endangered Riverine Rabbit - Bunolagus monticularis:

The riverine rabbit is one of the world's rarest mammals and is endemic to the dense riverine scrub along the seasonal rivers of the central Karoo of South Africa. It is rated as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Distinguishing marks include a distinctive white ring around each eye and a black stripe running from the corner of its mouth over its cheek. Weighing up to 1.9 kg (4.2 lb) its diet mainly consists of flowers and leaves; grasses are included in the wet season. Riverine rabbits are nocturnal and solitary, with a polygamous mating system and an unusually low breeding rate for a rabbit.

It was seen several times between 1902 and 1948, but it was then not seen again until 1979. Surveys in 1989 suggested that it survived only in the dense, discontinuous vegetation in the districts of Victoria West, Beaufort West and Frazerburg, an area of approximately 86 sq km (33 sq mi). As of 2001, it was thought to occur in river catchments in the semi-arid south central Karoo between Beaufort West and Williston, and Sutherland and Victoria West. All its habitat is on private farmland!

Conservation Status:
Conversion of habitat for agriculture has been the major threat to the riverine rabbit. Upwards of 60% of the original riparian vegetation where it is found has been converted to cultivation. While the extent of this habitat loss is significant it is currently static. Other threats include: habitat loss due to firewood collecting and heavy grazing pressure by sheep, traditional hunting with dogs, predation from uncontrolled dogs roaming in the veldt, mortality due to traps such as the serrated steel-jawed gin trap, and construction of dams which dry up the rivers.

Conservation efforts by the Wildlife Society of Southern Africa and the South African Nature Foundation (Now WWF SA), in concert with research activities, have done much to draw attention to its plight. A number of governmental and non-governmental organisations have joined together in the Riverine Rabbit Conservation Project to carry out important conservation work.

A riverine rabbit awareness program among the farmers of the central Karoo has been instituted. Since the rabbit is found only on privately owned farms, its survival depends on the willingness of landowners to adopt farming methods to reduce over-grazing and other harmful practices in the sensitive riverine habitat. Some Karoo farmers have declared their farms Natural Heritage Sites to protect the riverine habitat and rabbit.

Population Estimates:
1989: It was estimated that the remaining habitat potentially could support 1435 rabbits but that the actual surviving population probably was much smaller..
1995: Fewer than 1000.
1996: Probably well below 1000 animals.

How you can help:

Little Emily helping the riverine rabbits!
Emily van der Merwe (9), a grade 3 pupil of De Kuilen Primary in Kuils River, is a great inspiration to all of us. Emily's parents own a farm in the Northen Cape – the region also endemic to the riverine rabbit. With riverine rabbits being on the verge of extinction, Emily's passion for conservation gave her the inspiration to have a fundraising event to help save the riverine rabbit.

An extract from Emily's letter:
" My naam is Emily van der Merwe. Ek is 'n Gr 3 leerder van Laerskool De Kuilen, Kuilsrivier. Ek hou baie van diere, en ek wil graag eendag 'n natuurbewaarder word. Ek het 'n fondsinsameling gehou omdat ek dink dat te veel diere van Suid-Afrika, en ook reg oor die wêreld, besig is om uit te sterf. Daarom moet ons begin help, en ook ons deel doen daar om die wêreld 'n beter plek te maak. Ek het gekies om die fondsinsameling vir die oewer koenyn te hou, omdat ons 'n plaas het in die Noord Kaap, naby die omgewing waar die oewer konyn voorkom."

IUCN Categories:
1960's: -
1970's: -
1980's: Endangered
1994: Endangered
1996: Endangered; (Criteria: B1+2c)
2000: Endangered; (Criteria: B1+2c)

------------------> Data on Biology and Ecology <-----------------------

Name: Riverine Rabbit
(Other Names: Boshaas, Bushman Rabbit or Hare, Deelfontein Hare, Doekvoetjie, Pondhaas, River Hare, Vleihaas)

Scientific Name:
Bunolagus monticularis

Size:
The riverine rabbit weighs 1.4 - 1.9 kg (3.1 - 4.2 lb).

Habitat:
The riverine rabbit lives only in dense riverine scrub in the alluvial floodplains of the seasonal rivers in the central Karoo Desert. It is restricted to riverine scrub of 0.5 - 1 m (1.6 - 3.2') in height and to areas with soil types that allow stable burrows to be constructed. (Avery 1988, Stuart & Stuart 1996)

Distribution:
As of 2001, it was thought to occur in river catchments in the semi-arid south central Karoo between Beaufort West and Williston, and Sutherland and Victoria West. It is found only on private farmland in riverine vegetation along seasonal river courses. (Ahlmann 2001, Cape Nature Conservation) > Distribution Map <

Gestation Period:
35 - 36 days (Stuart & Stuart 1996).

Birth Season:
Births occur during August through May.

Birth Rate:
One, rarely two per year.

Early Development:
A newborn riverine rabbit is altricial and is reared in a fur- and grass-lined burrow. (altricial - refers to young mammals (e.g. rats, mice, cats, dogs) that are helpless at birth; their eyes and ears are sealed, and they cannot walk, maintain their body temperature, or excrete without assistance)

Diet:
The riverine rabbit is predominantly a browser, eating flowers and leaves from shrubs. Grasses are included in the diet when these are available in the wet season.

The riverine rabbit produces two types of droppings. At night, when the rabbit is active, hard pellets are deposited. During the day, droppings are soft and are reingested by the rabbit. In this way the riverine rabbit obtains vitamin B, produced by bacteria in its hind gut, and minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are recycled. (Collins 2001)

Behavior:
The riverine rabbit is nocturnal, feeding at night and resting during the day in forms, which it scrapes out under a bush. It is the only African rabbit where the female prepares an underground burrow for her young. This nest is lined with grass and fur. (Nowak 1999)

Social Organization:
The riverine rabbit is solitary with a polygamous mating system. Males and females each maintain home ranges which are exclusive with regard to members of their own sex, with a male's home range overlapping with the home ranges of several females.

Density/Range:
Density: Two censuses conducted in sections of the typical habitat have yielded densities of 6.4 and 16.6 individuals/sq km (16.6 and 43.0 individuals/sq mi).

Home range: The female home range = 12.9 hectares (32 acres) +/- 43%. The male home range = 20.9 hectares (52 acres) +/-14%.

Minimum Viable Population:
Minimum Viable Population Density: 6.4 individuals/sq km

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