5.3.6 Hippotragus equinus (Roan Antelope)
Roan antelope have been imported into South Africa under permits. However,
hybridisation occurs between sub-species (Ansell et al. 1971), so after the establishment of H. e. koba from West Africa, a moratorium was placed on the movement of
roan antelope in South Africa, and a genetic study investigated the spatial genetic
structure in roan antelope across their African range. Alpers et al. (2004) provided
evidence for the existence of two Evolutionary Significant Units (ESU), based on
both mitochondrial and nuclear data. The first corresponds to the West African
animals (H. e. koba), whilst the East, central and southern African animals formed
the second ESU, essentially combining H. e. equinus, H. e. cottoni, and H. e.
langheldi into a single genetic group.
It has been estimated that only 300 roan antelope are living in the wild in
South Africa, while the remainder (~3500) are ranched on farms (Havemann et al.
2016). Moreover, much of the ranched stocks are now extralimital to the natural
distribution of H. e. equinus, which only naturally occurs in northern areas of Limpopo
province (Kruger et al. 2016). The popularity of this species in the game industry has
given rise to concerns for its genetic integrity, as imported H. e. koba, from West
Africa (Castley et al. 2001), are known to have hybridised with native H. e. equinus
with resulting hybrids. This has led to the listing of list H. e. koba as a Category
2 species in the Regulations, and many conservation authorities now require genetic
testing before permits are granted to move Roan antelope between provinces.
5.3.7 Rusa unicolor (Sambar Deer)
Sambar Deer were introduced to the Groote Schur estate in Cape Town in the 1880s,
and from there made their way to Table Mountain (Picker and Griffiths 2011). Their
population persists in the wooded areas of Orange Kloof and they have also been
seen at the base of the Twelve Apostles. No control programme is in place, and they
are not thought to cause serious impact. They are not listed as invasive species in the
Regulations.
5.3.8 Hemitragus jemlahicus (Himalayan Tahr)
Himalayan Tahr are invasive on the Table Mountain section of Table Mountain
National Park, where they cause erosion to paths and damage vegetation. A small
number of animals were escapees from the Cape Town zoo in the 1930s (Picker and
Griffiths 2011), where they quickly scaled the fence. Numbers have varied since
their introduction and sporadic investments in control (Davies et al. 2020; Chap. 22).
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125
Roan antelope have been imported into South Africa under permits. However,
hybridisation occurs between sub-species (Ansell et al. 1971), so after the establishment of H. e. koba from West Africa, a moratorium was placed on the movement of
roan antelope in South Africa, and a genetic study investigated the spatial genetic
structure in roan antelope across their African range. Alpers et al. (2004) provided
evidence for the existence of two Evolutionary Significant Units (ESU), based on
both mitochondrial and nuclear data. The first corresponds to the West African
animals (H. e. koba), whilst the East, central and southern African animals formed
the second ESU, essentially combining H. e. equinus, H. e. cottoni, and H. e.
langheldi into a single genetic group.
It has been estimated that only 300 roan antelope are living in the wild in
South Africa, while the remainder (~3500) are ranched on farms (Havemann et al.
2016). Moreover, much of the ranched stocks are now extralimital to the natural
distribution of H. e. equinus, which only naturally occurs in northern areas of Limpopo
province (Kruger et al. 2016). The popularity of this species in the game industry has
given rise to concerns for its genetic integrity, as imported H. e. koba, from West
Africa (Castley et al. 2001), are known to have hybridised with native H. e. equinus
with resulting hybrids. This has led to the listing of list H. e. koba as a Category
2 species in the Regulations, and many conservation authorities now require genetic
testing before permits are granted to move Roan antelope between provinces.
5.3.7 Rusa unicolor (Sambar Deer)
Sambar Deer were introduced to the Groote Schur estate in Cape Town in the 1880s,
and from there made their way to Table Mountain (Picker and Griffiths 2011). Their
population persists in the wooded areas of Orange Kloof and they have also been
seen at the base of the Twelve Apostles. No control programme is in place, and they
are not thought to cause serious impact. They are not listed as invasive species in the
Regulations.
5.3.8 Hemitragus jemlahicus (Himalayan Tahr)
Himalayan Tahr are invasive on the Table Mountain section of Table Mountain
National Park, where they cause erosion to paths and damage vegetation. A small
number of animals were escapees from the Cape Town zoo in the 1930s (Picker and
Griffiths 2011), where they quickly scaled the fence. Numbers have varied since
their introduction and sporadic investments in control (Davies et al. 2020; Chap. 22).
5 Terrestrial Vertebrate Invasions in South Africa
125