Endangered bontebok and small game survival: a quest of palaeontology, climate change, consumptive use and biodiversity management in aouthern Africa

Presented at the 9th international wildlife ranching symposium: wildlife - the key to prosperity for rural communities, held on 12-16 September 2016 at Hotel Safari & the Safari Court, Windhoek, Namibia.Bontebok enhancement and survival as species came into question with the US Fisheries &Wildlife Services from an attack by the US Humane Society on permits for bontebok trophy imports in October 2015. A comprehensive report that enlightens the origin, development and reasons for the genetic bottleneck of the sub-species was compiled by the author. DNA genetics provides valued insight in the bontebok's heterozygosity when linked to historic palaeontology of the southern African coast line and the climate conditions and different vegetation as now indicated from radio-isotope from dental measurement of skeletons and fossils found in the Karoo Basin and along the southern coastline. An assessment of governmental attempts of protection verses the translocation of Bontebok out of its past natural distribution range in the Western Cape to alternative more suitable habitat in the Eastern Cape and the Free State are discussed. The impact of breeding on private land and the establishment of the WRSA Bontebok Breeding Group and the newly registered Bontebok Breeders Association (GAZETTE notice 690, 10 Jun 2016) as part of the Wildlife Production Association under the Animal Improvement Act (Act 62 of 1998) of the South African Department of Agriculture, Fisheries &Forestry is highlighted against the contradictive IUCN Red data listing. A difference in number of 1,200 versus 8,000 bontebok and the application to other game species are discussed