The latest Regional Mammal Red List of Threatened Species for South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini reveals that approximately 20 percent of mammal species in this tri-country region are currently at risk of extinction. The assessment also indicates that an additional 12 percent are considered near threatened. Released in January 2026 and covering data compiled up to 2025, the report represents the most comprehensive evaluation of mammalian biodiversity in Southern Africa to date.
This updated Red List was developed through a collaborative effort coordinated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the South African National Biodiversity Institute, drawing on the expertise of over 150 specialists in mammalian conservation and taxonomy. In total, 336 mammal taxa were systematically assessed across the three nations. The findings show that 11 species have experienced an uplisting in their conservation status, suggesting a deterioration in their population viability or habitat conditions. Conversely, only three species have been downlisted, reflecting modest improvements in their ecological circumstances.
Of particular concern is the status of endemic species. Sixty seven mammal species are unique to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini. According to the report, 42 percent of these endemics are classified as threatened with extinction. This level of vulnerability places the full responsibility for their survival on the governments, conservation institutions and local communities within this specific geographic zone.
The threats driving these declines are multiple and often intersecting. Primary pressures include habitat loss and degradation caused by agricultural expansion, urban encroachment and infrastructure development. These forms of land-use transformation continue to erode natural ecosystems, disproportionately impacting terrestrial fauna. The report further highlights climate change as an increasingly influential factor, altering habitat suitability and seasonal availability of resources. Illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking remain persistent concerns, particularly for larger mammals and those with high commercial value.
Despite the scale of the crisis, the report does highlight some areas of resilience. Approximately 76 percent of assessed mammal species benefit from either strong or moderate protection through existing conservation frameworks and land designations. However, this leaves nearly one quarter of species either poorly protected or entirely unprotected, exposing them to unmitigated pressures.
This latest regional assessment reinforces the urgency of adopting context-specific conservation strategies that recognise the interdependence between biodiversity, ecological resilience and community livelihoods. It also calls attention to the importance of safeguarding endemic species as part of a broader continental effort to prevent irreversible biodiversity loss.
While conservation discourse in Africa is often filtered through external narratives, this regional report affirms the depth of local expertise and knowledge systems shaping contemporary African conservation science. It urges both continental and global stakeholders to acknowledge African leadership in biodiversity stewardship, not merely as a recipient of conservation aid, but as a generator of scientific knowledge, environmental justice and intergenerational care for the continent’s ecosystems.
The full report, available through the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s platform, forms part of a broader initiative to track ecological change and inform national and regional conservation policies. The data and methodologies align with the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, ensuring international comparability while maintaining regional specificity.
As Africa faces the intertwined challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change, regional assessments such as this serve as vital tools for decision making grounded in ecological realities. They also represent an important act of narrative reclamation, placing African science and conservation voices at the centre of solutions for a shared planetary future.
