Scrub hare

The Cape scrub hare, Lepus saxatilis, known in Afrikaans as the ribbokhaas, is a hare found in South Africa and Namibia. It is a medium to large hare with coarse grizzled grey fur along most of its body, white undersides, a black and white tail, black-tipped ears and white rings around the eyes, and it resembles the smaller African savanna hare, which has a broader range across Africa. It is largely restricted to savanna, woodland and scrubland, although it reaches the borders of some forest and mountain habitats, and it is fairly adaptable, able to live where agriculture has modified the land. Frederic Cuvier wrote the first description in 1823. The IUCN considers it least concern because it is fairly common and occurs in several protected areas, but its population has been declining, with a 20 percent decrease expected over 100 years according to a 2004 report, as agricultural development fragments populations and hunting for food and traditional medicine takes a toll.