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How can we save riverine rabbits?

How can we save riverine rabbits?

Endemic to the Karoo and one of the world’s rarest mammals, research has determined that the only way to secure the Riverine Rabbit’s long term survival is through protection of natural habitat.

Why are riverine rabbit endangered?

The most devastating threat to the riverine rabbit is the loss of its habitat. This habitat is limited to the alluvial floodplains of seasonal rivers in the central Karoo. These flood plains, only 100 – 200 m wide, are formed when the rivers overflow during floods, and deposit silt on their banks(Duthie, 1987).

How is the riverine rabbit suited to its environment?

It feeds on the dense shrubland and the soft soil allows for it to create vast burrows and dens for protection, brooding young, and thermoregulation. The riverine rabbit lives in very dense growth along the seasonal rivers in the central semi-arid Karoo region of South Africa.

What are the farmers doing to save the riverine rabbit?

Due to the linear nature of its habitat, the Riverine Rabbit can be most effectively protected if landowners participate in a network of conservancies to conserve remaining habitat and form an extended Riverine Rabbit conservation area.

Where can riverine rabbits be found?

South Africa
The riverine rabbit lives along seasonal rivers, in one of the few areas of the Karoo Desert, South Africa, suitable for conversion to agriculture – and as a result has lost virtually all its habitat to farming.

How many riverine rabbits are left?

“With only around 400 individuals left in the wild, the riverine rabbit qualifies as one of the rarest mammals in southern Africa.”

Are any types of rabbits endangered?

Conservation Status: Nearly half of the world’s rabbit species are in danger of extinction. A number of species are listed as endangered, including the Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi), found in Japan, and the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Why do you think they are called riverine rabbit?

Riverine rabbits are found nowhere except in South Africa’s Karoo region, and as their name indicates, their preferred habitat is along the dry riverbeds of this arid region.

What do riverine rabbit eat?

Answer: Riverine Rabbits’ diet consist of Karoo bushes (90%) and grass (10%). Some of the bushes we consume include; Bierbos, Gannabos and Skaapbos. Card 3: Where do I live? Answer: Nama Karoo Biome (primarily Northern Cape) and Succulent Karoo, Fynbos and Renosterveld Biomes in the Western Cape.

Are there any endangered rabbits?

Pygmy rabbits are believed to be one of only two rabbit species in Northern America that dig its own burrows (the other is the Volcano rabbit). This “Columbia Basin” pygmy rabbit is recognized as a distinct population segment and is protected as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Why are riverine rabbits called that?

What is the conservation status of rabbits?

The European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has been officially reclassified as “Near Threatened” with extinction, in its native range, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Why is it important to conserve the riverine rabbit?

According to Bonnie Schumann, senior field officer for the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Drylands Conservation Programme (EWT-DCP), the benefits of this network of conservancies are considerable. They include healthier river systems, bigger wildlife populations, shared costs and a common approach to conservation issues.

Where are riverine rabbits in the Western Cape?

All three farms are situated in the vicinity of the Anysberg Nature Reserve in the Western Cape and all three farms have Riverine Rabbit presence confirmed. We hope that the addition of these properties to the conservation network will enhance habitat and range protection for the Riverine Rabbits in the southern population.

When was the southern population of riverine rabbits discovered?

We hope that the addition of these properties to the conservation network will enhance habitat and range protection for the Riverine Rabbits in the southern population. The southern population was only discovered in 2003.

What are the threats to the riverine rabbit?

The main threats to the existence of the Riverine Rabbit are: 1 Predation by birds of prey 2 Agriculture destroying prime habitat and displacing the species 3 Isolated populations causing hard times for the species to breed