Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
This site is centred on the 60–90-m-high cliffs of the Mechachaneng Ridge, which runs for c.1 km. The tributaries of the Senqu (Orange) river system have incised deeply into the basalt, creating near-vertical cliffs. The surrounding highlands support a traditional pastoral economy with a low-density population. Approximately 15% of the surrounding area (within a 25-km radius) is cultivated, the remainder being open pasture. The vegetation is primarily montane grassland. High-altitude shrubs form a heath of
Erica,
Chrysocoma and
Helichrysum. The summits are generally rocky, with bare, shallow soil patches and rock sheets near the escarpment.
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. This site is centred on an important colony of
Gyps coprotheres (at c.3,000 m), which forms a stable nucleus of the national breeding population, regularly holding at least 25 pairs and over 75 individuals. The rare
Gypaetus barbatus meridionalis also forages widely across this area. Other cliff-nesting species include
Buteo rufofuscus,
Falco biarmicus and
Ciconia nigra. The high-altitude, rocky, boulder-strewn slopes and outcrops (above 2,000 m) support
Chaetops aurantius, and the surrounding grassy slopes and plateau hold
Anthus hoeschi, which breeds in large numbers during the austral summer (especially above 3,000 m).
Serinus symonsi occurs commonly above 1,500 m, and has become commensal with humans, occupying and foraging in villages and among fallow and harvested crop fields.
Anthus crenatus,
Monticola explorator and
Geocolaptes olivaceus occur commonly in the vicinity of rocky outcrops.
Cercomela sinuata hypernephela,
Sylvia layardi barnesi and
Circus maurus are uncommon. The small, isolated, Lesotho subspecies
Parus afer arens also occurs. Small numbers of
Geronticus calvus occasionally forage in this area, and it is thought that there are breeding colonies in the vicinity.
Non-bird biodiversity: The alpine floral communities found in the Maloti/Drakensberg mountains are unique in southern Africa, holding a remarkable number of endemic plants. A recent botanical survey of three valleys in the Maloti yielded many species that could not be identified and some may be new to science. The high-altitude streams and seepages hold the Drakensberg-endemic frog Strongylopus hymenopus.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The IBA is located on communally owned land. The breeding colony of
Gyps coprotheres may be declining. It is a relatively small colony, but still one of the largest in Lesotho. All activity to and from the colony is in the direction of the KwaZulu-Natal escarpment, and the birds forage there, thus placing themselves at risk to poisoning by commercial small-stock farmers.
Geronticus calvus may occasionally be taken by local people for food or medicinal purposes.
Buteo rufofuscus and
Falco biarmicus are sometimes persecuted as chicken thieves, and
Bubo capensis is occasionally taken for medicinal purposes. There is no conservation concern for these common and widespread birds, provided that levels of persecution and utilization do not increase. Overgrazing, trampling, agriculture, and other human activities have not seriously affected any of the globally near-threatened, restricted-range or biome-restricted birds. Some species, such as
Serinus symonsi, benefit from an association with humans.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Liqobong (Lesotho). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/liqobong-iba-lesotho on 22/12/2024.
