abstract |
Thorough
investigation of the entire mammalian assemblages
has not been hitherto conducted in any African city.
Most studies were limited to single species causing
problems to citizens or to small mammals causing
health hazard. In 2011–2020, 81 mammal species were
recorded in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, although
only 34 (42.0%) species occurred in the inner zone
of the city (50 sq. km). The most speciose (25 species)
order were rodents. Within this order the most speciose
was the family Muridae (n = 13 species), while
the most common rodent species were: Rhabdomys
pumilio, Mastomys coucha, Gerbilliscus
leucogaster, and Gerbillurus paeba.
The second most speciose group of mammals were Chiroptera
represented by 14 (17.3%) species in the outer zone
(650 sq. km) and 8 species (23.5%) in the inner
zone. Ungulates, although mostly rare or uncommon,
were in the outer zone represented by eight (9.9%)
species. None was, however, recorded in the inner
zone. Nineteen Carnivora species (23.5%) were recorded
in the outer zone, but only two of them in the inner
zone. Other species recorded in Windhoek were representatives
of seven other orders: Eulipotyphla (n = 4 spp.),
Macroscelidea (n = 3), Lagomorpha (n = 3),
Hyracoidea (n = 1), Primates (n=2), Tubulidentata
(n = 1), and Pholidota (n = 1). Two species, Cynictis
penicillata and Geosciurus inauris,
were found to be relatively common in the inner
zone. They have reached a population density (5.6
and >2.0 individuals per 100 ha, respectively)
higher than in any other cities in Namibia, and
probably in southern Africa at large. Despite intense
searching in the inner zone, Hystrix africeaustralis
and Procavia capensis were only recorded
in a shrubby hill. The Procavia capensis population
was estimated at 40–70 individuals. A few troops
of Papio ursinus are resident only in the
outer zone. The following species recorded in Windhoek
are in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:
Acinonx jubatus, Panthera pardus,
Felis nigripes, Hyaena brunnea,
and Smutia temminckii. Noteworthy is the
absence of any alien mammal species in the inner
zone, and the presence of only Mus musculus
in the outer zone of the city. The protection
of mammals in Windhoek, especially in the outer
zone, may act as a catalyst to move the municipality
governance towards a more effective biodiversity
conservation. |
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