The Sungazer (Smaug giganteus), also known as the Giant Girdled Lizard or Ouvolk, is a Threatened species endemic to the Highveld grasslands of the north-eastern Free State and southern Mpumalanga. The entire distribution of the Sungazer falls within the Highveld Agricultural Region where the species’ extent of occurrence covers 40% of the total area. The Sungazer is an unusual Girdled Lizard as it is not rupicolous, but rather shelters in self-excavated grassland burrows that burrows are prone to destruction during crop cultivation. Agricultural practises are therefore a major threat to the species, destroying large tracts of habitat and creating fragmented island populations.

Sungazers are also highly sought after in the pet trade and for use in traditional medicine. These trades are almost entirely supplied by the illegal removal of animals from wild populations. The illegal reptile trade has been largely ignored, but is a potentially significant factor threatening wild reptile populations both in the pet trade and the traditional medicine trade. The species is currently listed on CITES Appendix II, and as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List based on distribution data from 1978, however the species is likely to be at a greater risk of extinction than is suggested by this IUCN status given that this data is now severely out-dated. Despite the numerous threats facing the species, a very small portion of Sungazer habitat is under formal protection. The poor understanding of current distribution-wide population densities of Sungazers and the effect of agriculturally-driven landscape change on these populations hinders the formulation and implication of effective conservation strategies.

This project seeks to assess the current conservation status of the Sungazer by quantifying the current area of occupancy, extent of occurrence and population densities of the species across the distribution. Secondly it aims to investigate the implications of current habitat management practices on Sungazer distribution and population densities and thereby assess the conservation status of the species. From this project, direct and pertinent conservation initiatives can be implemented to conserve the species and the habitat that it occupies. Conservation measures that are established to protect the species and the associated habitat will directly benefit other endemic and threatened species that are at risk from grassland degradation within the Highveld, such as Botha’s Lark (Spizocorys fringillaris), the Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradisea), the Yellow-breasted Pipit (Anthus chloris) and the Orange Mouse (Mus orangiae).