the environment. In their assessment, Hagen and Kumschick (2018) found that
donkeys can have Massive environmental impact, but only Moderate socioeconomic impact. They compete with livestock and native animals for food and
space, spread invasive plants and diseases, foul or damage waterholes and cause
erosion (Australian Government 2011). In South Africa, local abundance has led to
export of donkey skins from communal areas for the traditional Chinese medicine
and cosmetics market (Cruise 2018). As this often appears to be unregulated, there is
also a growing animal welfare concern for these donkeys (Cruise 2018). They are not
listed as invasive alien species in the Regulations.
5.3.4 Equus ferus caballus (Domestic Horses)
Horses arrived in South Africa via shipping with European settlers in the 1600s.
They were used extensively for transport in South Africa before the introduction of
automobiles. Since then they have been used on farms and for recreation. In rural
communities they are still used for transport, but this is decreasing (Swart 2010).
Little is known about the extent and impact of feral horses in South Africa, with
nothing found on impacts in the formal peer-reviewed literature. There are three
known wild horse populations in South Africa. Two are local tourist attractions. The
largest is a population of at least 200 around Kaapsehoop in Mpumalanga, which
roam an area of about 17,000 ha. The Kaapsehoop area is home to one of the last
Fig. 5.1 A hybrid between a Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra) and a donkey (Equus asinus)
near Cape Infanta in the Western Cape Province. Photograph courtesy of Brian van Wilgen
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donkeys can have Massive environmental impact, but only Moderate socioeconomic impact. They compete with livestock and native animals for food and
space, spread invasive plants and diseases, foul or damage waterholes and cause
erosion (Australian Government 2011). In South Africa, local abundance has led to
export of donkey skins from communal areas for the traditional Chinese medicine
and cosmetics market (Cruise 2018). As this often appears to be unregulated, there is
also a growing animal welfare concern for these donkeys (Cruise 2018). They are not
listed as invasive alien species in the Regulations.
5.3.4 Equus ferus caballus (Domestic Horses)
Horses arrived in South Africa via shipping with European settlers in the 1600s.
They were used extensively for transport in South Africa before the introduction of
automobiles. Since then they have been used on farms and for recreation. In rural
communities they are still used for transport, but this is decreasing (Swart 2010).
Little is known about the extent and impact of feral horses in South Africa, with
nothing found on impacts in the formal peer-reviewed literature. There are three
known wild horse populations in South Africa. Two are local tourist attractions. The
largest is a population of at least 200 around Kaapsehoop in Mpumalanga, which
roam an area of about 17,000 ha. The Kaapsehoop area is home to one of the last
Fig. 5.1 A hybrid between a Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra) and a donkey (Equus asinus)
near Cape Infanta in the Western Cape Province. Photograph courtesy of Brian van Wilgen
5 Terrestrial Vertebrate Invasions in South Africa
123