Biodiversity · Mammals of the Sand Forest

A refuge for rare and threatened mammals

Suni-Ridge lies at the interface of the Tembe Sandy Bushveld and Sand Forest vegetation types — habitats of significant biodiversity importance, supporting endemic and Red Data mammal species in an area under increasing pressure from habitat loss.

90+mammal species in the surrounding landscape
26bat species recorded
5cat species, including leopard
11Red Data species of conservation concern
Why it matters

Intact sand forest is a stronghold for species losing ground elsewhere

As intact representatives of these habitats become increasingly scarce, places like Suni-Ridge grow ever more important for the mammals adapted to them. Ongoing mammal monitoring on the property and its surrounds offers a valuable opportunity to track community trends and species composition outside the province’s formal protected-area network.

Suni antelope
Suni antelope (Neotragus moschatus) — Vulnerable
Four-toed elephant shrew
Four-toed elephant shrew (Petrodromus tetradactylus)
Leopard
Leopard (Panthera pardus)
Natal red duiker
Natal red duiker (Cephalophus natalensis) — Near Threatened
Tonga red bush squirrel
Tonga red squirrel (Paraxerus palliatus) — Near Threatened
Aardvark
Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)
The Suni-Ridge area lies within the interface of the Tembe Sandy Bushveld and Sand Forest vegetation types — habitats that hold significant biodiversity importance. Continued monitoring here is a fantastic opportunity to detect trends occurring outside the province’s protected-area network. Dr Craig Widdows (Pr.Sci.Nat)PhD Ecology
Red Data species

Mammals of conservation concern

A number of endemic and threatened mammal species occur at Suni-Ridge. These Red Data species — classified by their IUCN conservation status — are among those the reserve helps to protect.

Pangolin

Smutsia temminckii Critically Endangered

African Wild Dog

Lycaon pictus Endangered

Suni Antelope

Neotragus moschatus Vulnerable

Brown Hyaena

Hyaena brunnea Near Threatened

Serval

Leptailurus serval Near Threatened

Red Duiker

Cephalophus natalensis Near Threatened

Spotted Hyaena

Crocuta crocuta Near Threatened

South African Hedgehog

Atelerix frontalis Near Threatened

Four-toed Elephant Shrew

Petrodromus tetradactylus Near Threatened

Tonga Red Squirrel

Paraxerus palliatus Near Threatened

Aardvark

Orycteropus afer Least Concern
Also protected here

Other mammal species on the reserve

Alongside the Red Data species, Suni-Ridge protects a wide diversity of other mammals — including five cat species, three mongoose species and 26 species of bat.

  • Caracal, African wild cat, genet (with leopard & serval, 5 cat species)
  • Honey badger (Mellivora capensis)
  • Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii)
  • Impala (Aepyceros melampus)
  • Reedbuck (Redunca arundinum)
  • Grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia)
  • Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)
  • Zebra (Equus quagga)
  • South African porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)
  • Scrub hare (Lepus saxatilis)
  • Woodland dormouse (Graphiurus murinus)
  • Banded, water & white-tailed mongoose
  • 26 bat species
  • Moles & rodents (ID in progress)

Protect a stronghold for threatened wildlife

Your support funds the anti-poaching patrols, habitat restoration and monitoring that keep this refuge intact for the mammals that depend on it.

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