The Boosmansbos Shrew expedition

​The Boosman shrew (Myosorex longicaudatus boosmani) is a critically endangered shrew found only in a remote afro-montane forest section in the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area. It has not been seen since 1980 but in partnership with Cape Nature, the GVB Conservancy assisted in an expedition to find the shrew again.

Here is a video summary of the trip..

A view from near the Boosmansbos Forest

We took the opportunity to combine our plans with a heli-hack that was planned in the same mountain region. This would allow us to use a helicopter to transport 86 traps into the mountains with all our equipment. The only way to get to the forest is a 15km hike into the mountains through old and tall fynbos of the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area.

The last time the shrew was found, it took several nights to trap them as they are knowns to be trap-shy but with limited time we were hoping to catch them in 3 nights and 4 mornings. We set out 86 traps, 30 traps were put close to the huts and 56 traps were put on the forest edge of the Boosmanbos forest.

​The traps were baited with peanut butter and oats balls and needed to be checked daily. Our team included experienced small mammal trapping experts, and it was wonderful to watch and learn how to do this safely. We used Sherman traps that were on loan to the expedition (thank you to all who assisted). These traps are excellent for small mammal trapping and allow animals to be safely caught and released without any harm.

Peanut butter and oats balls that is used as bait

Setting-up traps

Danger tape is used to mark traps

Ebe and Aileen setting up traps and documenting location

Aileen setting up a trap and marking it

Marienne and Andrew weighing and measuring a Forest Shrew

The Helicopter that assisted us in transporting all the gear

The Helicopter that dropped the second half of the team

Scouting the area

Aileen navigating through the forest

Andrew navigating through the forest

The views from our camp site

The team setting up the traps and baiting them

Myomyscus verreauxii

Tall fynbos bushes up in the mountains

Cape River Frog

Cliff and Aileen checking the traps

Stream scenery

After 3 nights of not finding the special creatures, we decided to continue to trap and a major logistical adjustment meant that some team members returned home, while a second team returned up the mountain for a further 2 days of trapping. We then had to overcome the formidable logistics of getting everyone down (including, trap gear, and all garbage) which required a fleet of people.

Unfortunately, we did not find the special shrew and they remain elusive. We only found 2 small mammal species: Myomyscus verreauxii and Myosorex varius. This is less than what we expected but it has helped us to prepare a second expedition where we will conduct more expensive research on historical records to ensure that we have located the most ideal location and have prepared us for a much longer expedition, where we may have to use 2-3 teams of people to locate this elusive creature.

​We can’t yet draw any conclusions on its current population status. We hope that this creature is just very shy and not used to anyone being near its secretive home. We are planning new techniques to try and capture it, including camera traps and a longer expedition into deeper forest areas.

While we did not achieve our objective, we were able to bio-blitz a range of species which allowed us to better understand this unique mountain forest environment. The information also allows us to think carefully about the implications of long intervals between burns within the fynbos region. The last time this area burnt is in the late 80’s and so it’s important to assess this forest shrew population before another fire.

​We do not know what the impact will be of a large fire in the area and if the shrew is limited to the forest edge. If so, a very warm burn could impact the population. We suspect it is safely hiding in the fire safety of the deep forest, but we will be doing all we can to understand its current habit better so that we can ensure its survival in this magnificent and secretive place. 

We look forward to another trip in April 2025!

Well done to the team and everyone who trekked up and down the mountain and who helped make it possible from base camp.

Cape Nature: Marienne de Villiers, Andrew Turner, Edgar Michaels, Graham Highburg, Dominique Coetzee and Elna Vaaltyn.

GVB Conservancy: Ricardo Januarie, Philip Daries, Keith Moodie, Aileen Anderson, Jessi Venter and Ebenezer Figueroa

Cliff and Suretha Dorse (authors of the amazing book Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna) (Get a copy now)
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Logistics and base camp: Darren Blom, Michael Raimondo, Justin du Toit, Nkosekhaya Pinzi, Makoma Mpekwane

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