The introduction of the Chukar Partridge <i>Alectoris chukar</i> to southern Africa

Abstract

Chukar Partridges Alectoris chukar were released at a few localities in South Africa and Zimbabwe with the aim of establishing viable populations that could contribute to a larger resource available to the ‘wing-shooting’ fraternity. Releases and introductions are poorly documented, and most information on where and when releases were done are not supported by references in the literature. None of the released Chukar Partridges survived to establish viable breeding populations lasting more than two years, apart from the introduction on Robben Island in the Western Cape in 1964. Predation, and perhaps haematozoan parasites, have possibly played a role in limiting the establishment of Chukar Partridges in southern Africa.