There have been further sightings of the critically endangered riverine rabbit beyond its normal distribution, CapeNature said in a statement on Wednesday.
”This is very significant for conservation as it means there is now a whole new area to discover, and a new distribution to the existing small and threatened habitat,” read a statement from CapeNature’s Natasha Rockman.
She said South Africa’s most endangered mammal was sighted on a farm in the Prince Albert area, about 120km from its known distribution.
The rabbits usually occur in the Central Karoo area, in towns such as Sutherland, Fraserburg and Victoria West.
CapeNature thanked local farmers and land owners who keep a look-out for the extinction-threatened rabbits.
Among the causes noted for declining numbers are habitat degradation, predators and gin traps. — Sapa