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Anthrax has been a problem in the LRNR in the past. In 1994, 84% of all Greater Kudu mortalities withinthe reserve were anthrax related.The poaching of wildlife is another serious problem in the reserve. White Rhino are particularlyvulnerable based on the current Rhino poaching onslaught in South Africa.2.4.7.1.1 Mammal Species of Conservation ConcernThe mammal species of conservation concern listed in Table 5 are known to occur at the LRNR.Table 5: Mammal species of conservation concern known to occur at the Letaba Ranch Nature ReserveSCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME IUCN STATUSPanthera pardus Leopard Near-threatened.Panthera leo Lion Threatened.Ceratotherium simum White Rhino Near-threatened.Lycaon pictus Wild Dog Endangered.Acinonyx jubatus Cheetah Vulnerable.2.4.7.2 AvifaunaThe LRNR is comprised of a relatively heterogeneous landscape, with multiple vegetation units,resulting in a wide range of habitat types and a potentially high level of avian species diversity.Additionally, the presence of the perennial Letaba River, as well as associated tributaries and drainagelines, offer various breeding and/or foraging habitats to a wide range of waterfowl and otherwetland/riparian/floodplain associated avian species.There are currently 101 verified avian species, of which five occur on the IUCN Red List of ThreatenedSpecies, occurring at the reserve, namely Bateleur (Vulnerable), Martial Eagle (Vulnerable), Tawny Eagle(Vulnerable), Southern Ground Hornbill (Vulnerable) and White-backed Vulture (Vulnerable). The levelof endemism reflected within the current verified species inventory includes seven near-endemicspecies. The potential species richness within the LRNR is potentially much higher than the currentspecies inventory, but is yet to be determined and/or recorded.The presence and conservation of (particularly existing breeding pairs of) two species listed under IUCNclassification, namely Martial Eagle (Vulnerable) and Tawny Eagle (Vulnerable), have both an ecologicaland conservation significance as they are apex predators within the given ecosystem and overalldensities in South Africa have decreased as a result of direct persecution.The majority of the South African Southern Ground Hornbill population is restricted to large protectedareas including and surrounding the Kruger National Park. This species has experienced a major rangecontraction, mainly as a result of habitat alteration and persecution. The identification andconservation of existing breeding pairs and/or possibly assisting the establishment of breeding pairswithin the LRNR will contribute to the overall conservation of the species within South Africa.2.4.7.3 Reptiles and AmphibiansThe LRNR provides ideal habitat for a range of reptile species. Snakes such as Black Mamba,Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Puff Adder, Boomslang and Southern African Python are known to occur,while individuals of Nile Crocodile were recorded in the reserve during the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,2010 and 2012 aerial censuses. Some of the lizard species occurring in LRNR include Wahlberg’s Snake–eyed Skink, Yellow-throated Plated Lizard, Cape Dwarf Gecko, Speckled Thick-toed Gecko and VariableSkink.Reserve Management Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 33