Southern Africa Mammal Red List 2025 warns of rising risk
The 2025 Regional Mammal Red List for South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho – compiled by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the South African National Biodiversity Institute with input from 150 experts – reports 11 species uplisted and three downlisted across 336 assessed taxa. Overall, 20% of mammals are threatened with extinction and 12% are Near Threatened; among 67 endemic species, 42% are threatened, placing full responsibility on the region for their conservation. Notable changes include the Thick-tailed Bushbaby moving from Least Concern to Near Threatened due to land use change, infrastructure development and climate pressures, while Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra improves from Vulnerable to Near Threatened following a verified population increase.
Key drivers remain habitat loss and degradation from agricultural and urban expansion, climate change and extreme weather, plus over-exploitation and poaching. About 76% of species are well or moderately protected, with 24% poorly or not protected. Undertaken in 2023–2025, the assessment for the first time evaluated genetic indicators and modelled climate vulnerability for 14 species; 7% are classed Data Deficient – many cetaceans – highlighting gaps in monitoring, especially for small mammals. Findings feed into SANBI’s 2025 National Biodiversity Assessment launched on 9 December 2025 and echo the October 2025 global IUCN update that lists 48,646 species at risk, underscoring implications for conservation planning, protected area management and wildlife tourism across the region.
Source: IOL News