A Mammal Survey of the Lower Usuthu Basin, Swaziland

Abstract

The Lower Usuthu River Basin is set in the lowveld of Swaziland. The predominant vegetation types are mixed broadleaf woodland in the western lowveld and Acacia savanna in the eastern lowveld. The mammalian fauna of the Lower Usuthu Basin has been poorly documented. The study set out to survey mammals of the Lower Usuthu Basin using appropriate sampling techniques.

A total of 45 species of mammals were recorded, or presumed to occur, in the study area, of which 10 species are of special conservation status both within Swaziland and in the southern african region. On Swazi Nation Land, species diversity and population sizes of mammals, especially the antelopes, were very low. Large-scale reduction of habitat may affect the conservation status of many mammals in the Lower Usuthu Basin.

UNISWA Research Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology Vol. 4 (1) 2000: pp 55-61