The flightless dung beetle used to be found widespread in Southern Africa but these days is classified as a vulnerable species and only found in Addo Elephant National Park and a couple of other isolated spots. The beetle is strictly dependent on a number of vertebrates (particularly elephant and buffalo) and when these animals were shot out at the end of the 1800's and beginning 1900's the poor dung beetle population took a huge knock. These days things are slowly getting better and better for them with the increase and spreading of the elephant population in Addo and the surrounding reserves.
we did see one on the sand dunes in the West Coast Park.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post! Great that this little flightless dung beetle is on the increase again. I love the young fingers displaying your subject!
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