JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- About 20 percent of mammals in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini are threatened with extinction, and a further 12 percent are classified as near threatened, according to the 2025 Regional Mammal Red List of Threatened Species released Wednesday.
The assessment, coordinated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the South African National Biodiversity Institute, with contributions from about 150 species experts, evaluated 336 mammal taxa in the three-country region.
The report found that 11 species have been uplisted, meaning their conservation status has worsened, while three have been downlisted.
"Of the 336 species assessed, 67 species are endemic to the assessment region. A total of 42 percent of these endemic mammals are threatened with extinction, making the region fully responsible for their protection and survival," said the report.
Major threats identified include habitat loss and degradation driven by agricultural expansion and urban development, climate change impacts, and poaching.
According to the analysis, only about 76 percent of mammal species are well or moderately protected, and nearly one-quarter are poorly protected or unprotected. ■