If you live in the Western Cape, the Northern Cape, the western part of North West Province and the south-eastern part of the Eastern Cape, and you wish to obtain insights into which game animals occurred there during the period when the first written records were made, you will be interested in a book published in 2011.
This A4- sized 535-page volume, written by the legendary zoologist and historian CJ Skead and published by the Centre for African Conservation Ecology at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, is titled Historical Incidence of the Larger Land Mammals in the broader Western and Northern Cape.
The book contains a brief review of the mammal position when the first European visitors and settlers arrived at the Cape, as well as descriptions of the nature of the veld in the area in question, based on the contents of the diaries and journals of these hardy pioneers. The main part of the book comprises a fully revised account of the known historical distribution records for a wide range of mammal species, usually according to a number of defined geographical regions.
The majority of the records relate to the larger game species, and particularly to those which were relatively easily identified and seen by the early observers. Maps showing the distribution of the historical records are presented for 44 species, and for these species and certain others a useful interpretation of their historical distribution records is provided.
One chapter provides a review of the patterns and trends in the status of the larger mammals, and it identifies those species that went extinct in, or that were exterminated from, the area. It mentions (exterminated) species that have since been re-introduced to this area, and it incorporates comments on the dynamic status of those species that were not exterminated.
In addition, the impact of humans on the larger mammals is briefly reviewed.
A final chapter lists and provides comments on alien (non-indigenous) larger mammal species that have been introduced in the area in question, or into parts of it. Importantly, it provides information and discussion on the known and potential ecological consequences or impacts of introduced species.
This book, which is a companion to the volume titled Historical Incidence of the Larger Land Mammals in the broader Eastern Cape, also authored by CJ Skead, and published in 2007, is an important source of information for a wide range of users, especially environmental historians, state conservation planners and managers, owners of private game reserves and game farmers, eco-tourism operators and EIA practitioners, and also national and provincial government departments responsible for compiling and implementing biodiversity policies and guidelines.
Both books can be ordered from the Centre for African Conservation Ecology at ace@nmmu.ac.za or 041 504 2316 (tel) and 041 504 2946 (fax).
Distribution of animals in the Great Karoo