Red List sounds alarm with a few comebacks

THE latest assessment of the status of mammals in South Africa, eSwatini and Lesotho, reveals important trends for conservation decision-making and research.

- STAFF REPORTER

THE Roan Antelope (Hippotragus equinus) has been downlisted. THE Oribi is one of South Africa's endangered antelopes. It features in the 2025 Red List of Threatened Species released this week by the Endangered Wildlife Trust. THE Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) was downlisted.

(Endangered Wildlife Trust KEENAN STEERS Endangered Wildlife Trust)

The 2025 Regional Mammal Red List of Threatened Species, was undertaken by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi), along with 150 species experts.

The assessment indicates the uplisting (declining conservation status) of 11 mammal species, whilst three mammal species have been downlisted (improved status).

The Thick-tailed Bushbaby (Otolemur crassicaudatus) is among the species uplisted from Least Concern to Near Threatened based on increasing threats due to agriculture, residential and industrial development, and emerging threats such as linear infrastructure development and climate change.

On the other hand, Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae) was downlisted from Vulnerable to Near Threatened due to a genuine increase in population numbers, exceeding the threshold for the Vulnerable category.

Of the 336 species assessed, 67 species are endemic to the assessment region. A total of 42% of these endemic mammals are threatened with extinction, making the region fully responsible for their protection and survival.

This 2025 Red List of Threatened Species provides an up-to-date assessment of the conservation status of mammals indicating that 20% of our mammals are threatened with extinction, whilst 12% are Near Threatened.