Mammals recorded on Jejane Private Nature Reserve

Notes to the “Larger Mammal Species of Jejane”

All the above species have been sighted and verified by more than one shareholder over the period covering the years 1987 to 2017.

There has been a dearth in reported sightings of some species such as Sharpe’s Grysbok (Raphicerus sharpie), Side Striped Jackal (Canis adustus), Serval (Felis serval) and Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) and this may be attributable to the increased presence of lion and other predator species over the past six years or so. There is no reason to believe that there are still not members of these species present on the reserve

The following species are currently no longer present on Jejane or have not been sighted for an extended period of time.

• Red Hartebeest (Alcelephus buselaphus) - were present on Vienna for a period but escaped to neighbouring farms such as Amsterdam where they were hunted. A pair of horns belonging to the last red hartebeest on Jejane (then Vienna) are to be seen in the Bush Camp office. The Red Hartebeest is not endemic to the area and for that reason no efforts were made to re-introduce them.
• Water Mongoose (Atilax paludinosus) was sighted on several occasions during 1995 and 1996 following exceptionally heavy rains which conditions were probably ideally suited to the water mongoose with crustacea and amphibia in good supply. They have not been sighted since.
• Rock Dassie (Procavia capensis) between 1987 and 1990 a small population of Rock Dassies occurred on the rocky outcrops in the vicinity of Kudu Trough. There was evidence of Caracal predation in this area at the time and it is believed that the population was completely decimated. There have been no reports of sightings after 1990.
• Bushpig (Ptamochoerus aethiopicus) aare known to exist on the reserve and are frequently picked up in aerial census. Sightings by shareholders have been limited over the years with the last reported sighting taking place in the riverine at Steve’s Pan several years ago.
• Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) have not been reported on the reserve since 2006. It is doubtful whether any Nyala still exist. Again a consequence of heavy predation.
• Tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus) and Eland (Tragelaphus oryx) have been seriously impacted by the very heavy lion predation and as a consequence their populations have been completely decimated and neither of the two species are currently found on Jejane.
• Common Reed Buck (Redunea arundinum) – When we acquired Vienna a small population occurred in the Miombo Dambo area of the farm. As the game population increased and there was evidence of grazing pressure the Reed Buck seemed to move away from the property and there were no further sightings after 1989.
There were unconfirmed sightings of several species of game in the early formative years.However there were no further sightings reported that would help to confirm the veracity of the reported sightings; and while a record has been made of the alleged occurrences, they have not been included in the formal list of Jejane mammal sightings
• Brown Hyaena (Hyaena brunea - 245) At the time it was thought unlikely that Brown hyaena would coexist with the particularly large population of Spotted Hyaena, attracted by the game abattoir and present on Vienna at that time. (Subsequent to this note Brown hyena has been sighted by site 16 and elsewhere on the adjoining Balule. So they are present. February 2024_)
• Brown Hyaena (Hyaena brunea - 245) At the time it was thought unlikely that Brown hyaena would coexist with the particularly large population of Spotted Hyaena, attracted by the game abattoir and present on Vienna at that time. (Subsequent to this note Brown hyena has been sighted by site 16 and elsewhere on the adjoining Balule. So they are present. February 2024_)
• Springhare (Pedetes capensis) Springhares were sighted and photographed over a limited period several years ago. There have been no further sightings probably due to consistently high levels of predators on the farm over the years. (February 2024_)

The other unconfirmed species reported was allegedly a sighting of Greater Cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus – 147) in the long grass and riverine adjacent to the N1. Experts were sceptical as the habitat was not really suitable for Canerats.

There may very well have been occurrences of these species but in the absence of further sightings over the period 1987 to 2010 there is strong doubt as to the accuracy of the sightings.

The numbering system applied in the above listing is that used by Smithers in his “The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion”. Most of the photographic representations are actual photographs take by shareholder members over the period.

Whilst every care is taken in the preparation of this listing of the mammals of Jejane Private Nature Reserve, no responsibility is accepted for errors.

Compiled by: Jim Thomson