VU

Kafue Mole-rat

Fukomys kafuensis

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Fukomys kafuensis faces significant pressure from agricultural expansion and human settlement development across its limited range in Zambia's Kafue region. Mining activities, particularly copper extraction, pose additional threats through habitat destruction and soil contamination. The species' highly specialized subterranean lifestyle and restricted geographic distribution make it particularly vulnerable to localized habitat modifications and fragmentation.

Threat summary

Habitat

This subterranean rodent inhabits well-drained sandy and clay soils in miombo woodland and grassland areas of the Kafue region in central Zambia. The species constructs extensive underground burrow systems in areas with suitable soil composition for tunnel excavation and foraging.

Artificial - Terrestrial· majorCaves and subterranean habitats· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protection

Other threatened species in BATHYERGIDAE

EN

Hanang Mole-rat

Fukomys hanangensis

Declining

Threatened in Zambia

VU

Nothobranchius cooperi

Unknown
Slaty EgretVU

Slaty Egret

Egretta vinaceigula

Declining
EN

Nymphoides tenuissima

Unknown
Humped BladderwortCR

Humped Bladderwort

Utricularia gibba

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Kafue Mole-rat classified as Vulnerable?
Kafue Mole-rat is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Fukomys kafuensis faces significant pressure from agricultural expansion and human settlement development across its limited range in Zambia's Kafue region. Mining activities, particularly copper extraction, pose additional threats through habitat destruction and soil contamination. The species' highly specialized subterranean lifestyle and restricted geographic distribution make it particularly vulnerable to localized habitat modifications and fragmentation.
Where does Kafue Mole-rat live?
Kafue Mole-rat occurs in Zambia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Kafue Mole-rat?
The main threats to Kafue Mole-rat are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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