The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) Riverine Rabbit Working Group (RRWG), has established an indigenous nursery in the Northern Cape town of Loxton. The nursery, which will propagate indigenous shrubs to re-vegetate the heavily degraded zones in the Great and Upper Karoo region, has an additional benefit, as it provides employment and training to women from the nearby previously disadvantaged community.
Floods, overgrazing and failed farming have caused such severe erosion of the natural vegetation that the scrub has no chance of recovering naturally. This means that the animals who make their homes in these arid places will die out. One of these species is the riverine rabbit, which is already on the critically endangered list.
“This situation is urgent because these rabbits can only survive in naturally intact riverine habitat in the Karoo. They have short lifespans and are slow breeders, with only one or two offspring in a year.
The misuse of gin traps and the illegal hunting with dogs puts another huge strain on this shy animal. The conservation of its natural environment is crucial to the species’ survival. There are only 1000 to 1500 riverine rabbits left,” says RRWG head, Dr Vicky Ahlmann.
After the first two weeks, the first seedlings emerged, motivating the women to build up the indigenous plant collection for rehabilitation work in the years to come. Increasing plant cover by transplanting these seedlings will ensure the damage is reversed and valuable rabbit habitats are re-established. This will not only improve the rabbits’ chances of survival, but also uplift and directly benefit the local community.
Because healthy riparian (riverbed) zones mean a better quality of agricultural product (meat and wool); better water conservation; and better soil and biodiversity, investing in this project results in healthier lifestyles, poverty alleviation and social upliftment for all.
For more info and to find out how you can help, visit www.ewt.org.za
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