sa conservation success stories SA Conservation success stories SA BONTEBOK: Back from the brink Image by Sashkin by Joseph Mulders THE BONTEBOK xtinction is a scary con- (over-hunting), mismanagement and (DAMALISCUS PYGARGUS cept. The fact that a group a disregard for the value of a spe- PYGARUS). BONTEBOK NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH of organisms can be pres- cies. Whether it is economic, envi- AFRICA. sured to such an extent ronmental or social value, the loss Ethat they get wiped out is a sobering will influence the way in which the thought. Yet even in today’s climate species is perceived and treated. of heightened environmental aware- The bontebok (Damaliscus py- ness, extinctions do still occur; in gargus pygargus) is a subspecies fact, rates of extinctions have in- that was almost lost in this way. creased drastically over the past Fortunately, game-breeding efforts 100 years, thanks to human-in- by the private sector, combined duced pressures (Ceballos et al. with conservation efforts by state 2015; Dirzo et al. 2014; Leakey and agencies, have pulled bontebok Lewis 1995). This happens through back from the brink. urban sprawl, spreading agricultural Hunting and agricultural pres- practices, pollution, exploitation sures had diminished total bontebok Photo by Mogens Trolle. Photo by Four Oaks. ʽBONTEBOKʼ BY ROWLAND WARD (1848-1912). sa conservation success stories sa conservation success stories BONTEBOK NATIONAL PARK IS A SPECIES- SPECIFIC NATIONAL PARK IN SOUTH Image supplied by Dr Johan Strydom. AFRICA. IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1931 TO ENSURE THE PRESERVATION OF THE BONTEBOK. IT IS THE SMALLEST OF SOUTH AFRICA'S 20 NATIONAL PARKS, COVERING AN AREA OF 27.86 KM2. THE PARK IS PART OF THE CAPE FLORISTIC REGION, WHICH IS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE. THE PARK IS LOCATED 6KM SOUTH OF SWELLENDAM, SA Conservation success stories SA IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE LANGEBERG MOUNTAINS.IT IS BORDERED TO THE SOUTH BY THE BREEDE RIVER. SOURCE: http://www.sanparks.org SA Conservation success stories SA THE BLESBOK OR BLESBUCK Photo by (DAMALISCUS Vaclav PYGARGUS Volrab. PHILLIPSI). populations to a mere 121 individ- The species had subsequently collaboration with the National uals by 1921 (East 1999, Le Roux begun to spread throughout South Bontebok Breeding Association Image supplied by Jenny Currie. 2010). Various concerned Cape Africa. This ultimately enabled (NBBA), Cape Nature and var- farmers and government officials game breeders to get involved ious other conservation agencies, Bontebok’s rarity has created Bontebok Breeders Association (a the Overberg in the Western Cape. subsequently got involved in an and, through collaboration with the process was streamlined with a significant economic value in WRSA advice committee). This makes natural rangeland early conservation effort, resulting the government, play a key the development of a DNA method the game-breeding industry and “I am proud of the working relation- conservation challenging. Much in the declaration of the spe- role in preserving the bontebok that allows for accurate detection of this has created an incentive for ship we have with government author- of the indigenous rangeland/natural cies-specific Bontebok National subspecies. mixed-gene individuals (Van Wyk the private sector to invest in ities and the way we work together veld already falls within protected Park in 1931. A key consideration in bontebok et al. 2013). this national biodiversity asset. to solve issues between sustain- areas such as the Bontebok National Only 22 bontebok were intro- genetic conservation is its ability to Currently, the national bontebok Today, a bontebok can be sold for able utilisation and conservation of Park and De Hoop Nature Reserve. duced to this park and by 1939 breed with the blesbok (Damaliscus population is estimated at 8 000 anything between R130 000 and the bontebok,” says Johan. Due to growing populations and the population had grown to 123 pygargus phillipsi). individuals, of which an estimated R150 000. Now that species numbers have the already fragmented and threat- individuals. However, by 1956, due The resulting offspring is a 1 100 individuals occur within This is a significant success story been replenished, what is the next ened vegetation in this area, how- to habitat constraints, the num- mixture of the two subspecies (a protected areas and the rest (seven made possible through the joint step in terms of conservation? ever, conservation efforts have bers had dropped to a few dozen man-made classification and not times more than in State parks) initiatives of government and the According to the scientific manager: been directed at protecting regions countrywide (there is uncertainty a natural classification) that, apart on private land. In South Africa, private game-breeding sector. The biodiversity, at CapeNature, Guy in the adjacent extended range- surrounding this number as the from threatening genetic integrity, government funding and available co-operation between government Palmer, “To conserve the bontebok land. This is not possible without remaining bontebok were segre- may negatively influence the value land for conservation is limited. The and the ranching sector in the as a species, it is crucial to safeguard involving neighbouring private land gated). Once again, this crisis of the species in the wildlife industry. importance of the private sector is case of bontebok preservation has its genetic integrity. This does owners into bontebok conserva- spurred a conservation initiative so To reduce the occurrences of thus illustrated by the fact that more been highly effective. not only refer to correct breeding tion initiatives, demonstrating fur- that, in 1960, the park was moved mixed individuals, a regulation than 85% of bontebok reside on “Authorities from the ranching management but also refers to ther their crucial role and creating to a new location at Swellendam. strategy was established to mod- privately owned land. Furthermore, industry are working closely with ensuring that the species is yet another platform for cohesion At this stage, approximately 200 erate population management the ranching industry holds three government departments, creating exposed to similar environmental between the sectors. Already, ap- bontebok remained and were dis- throughout the country. Part of this times more land than national and regulations for efficient management conditions and evolutionary selective proximately 2 600 individuals re- tributed to the park and to various regulation involved providing ev- provincial parks, making the sector and control to ensure that conservation pressures to which the bontebok side in their natural and extended interested private Eastern Cape idence of cross-breeding prior to crucial for bontebok conservation needs for the bontebok are met, but is adapted, thus guaranteeing the rangelands, elevating the species farmers. The new park presented any sales or movement of indi- when parks reach capacity. The at the same time balancing practical most natural possible maintenance to a near-threatened (NT) status a better habitat and the numbers vidual bontebok. Since 1989, pro- NBBA and the associated provincial needs for use of the species of the species.” on the IUCN Red Data list (Lloyd gradually increased to approximately viding proof of a pure breed was conservation authorities are busy in the industry,” says Dr Johan Being highly characteristic of and David 2008). It is through this 700 by 1978. The park also became done using a phenotypically based with a process of verifying which of Strydom, chairman of the Bontebok coastal Cape fynbos (East 1999), the successful co-operation between a source for the distribution of spe- photographic method (Fabricius et the 8 000 animals are mixed-gene Advisory Committee and a provincial bontebok is historically endemic to conservation authorities and the cies to satellite areas and farms. al. 1989). In 2010, through close individuals and which are pure. representative of the National an already restricted rangeland of wildlife ranching industry that this sa conservation success stories BONTEBOK AT VERGELEGEN, WESTERN CAPE. THERE’S EVERY REASON TO MARVEL AT THE BONTEBOK — THEY’RE NOT ONLY EXQUISITE, BUT ALSO LIVING PROOF THAT, WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE, THREATENED EXTINCTION CAN BE REVERSED TO STEADY GROWTH. Photo by Meldt van der Spuy. SA Conservation success stories SA Photos courtesy Meyrick Bowker. balance between utilisation of the spe- momentum and balance be main- Cape), Dr Johan Strydom (chairman: cies and conservation can be realised. tained. It is thanks to the balance be- Bontebok Advisory Committee; pro- Thus, driven by a combination tween economic growth, environ- vincial representative of the National of conservation concern and eco- mental conservation and cohesion Bontebok Breeders Association; nomic demand, the bontebok spe- between public and private sectors WRSA member), Guy Palmer (scientific cies has been pulled back from the that the future of the bontebok looks manager: biodiversity, CapeNature), brink. The combination of the regu- to be a bright one. Deon Hignett (senior manager: bio- lations, science and economic de- diversity legislation, CapeNature) and mand applied through conservation ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Dr Dean Peinke (mammal ecolo- and game-breeding initiatives have gist at Eastern Cape Parks and been instrumental in this. Now it is The author acknowledges Mick Tourism) for their unwavering assis- more important than ever that both D’Alton (private game farmer, Western tance