Understanding the historical dynamics of wildlife distribution and abundance is essential to developing appropriate conservation measures. Here we investigate the occurrence and status of medium-to large-sized fauna (excluding avifauna) for the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho and immediate adjoining regions of South Africa, from the late Pleistocene to the present-day. We provide historical timelines and records of reported medium to large faunal taxa based on: data from eight published archaeological excavations, analyses of several hundred unpublished 19th and 20th century historical documents (including missionary letters, diaries, colonial reports and newspapers), and 58 recent oral history interviews. Vegetation and climate changes through the Holocene are also noted, based on archaeo-botanical records. Through these sources, we record 61 medium to large faunal species for Lesotho and surrounding regions over the past ~21 ka, of which only 22 are present today. Some species not previously known to the region are documented (e.g. Temminck's pangolin). Most species were present during the early 19th century, but many regional species extinctions and a major faunal population decline occurred between 1845 and 1850, owing mainly to settler hunting campaigns. Subsequent extinctions have taken place over a wider temporal interval, due to factors including overhunting, human-wildlife conflicts and habitat loss. It seems that some taxa were forced into unsuitable mountain refugia where species eventually succumbed to genetic erosion and/or harsh climatic conditions. Our results increase current understanding of regional faunal and environmental changes, such as the timing of species occurrences and extinction events and processes in Lesotho. Such work adds valuable knowledge to understanding the environmental heritage of the region. Information can be disseminated into wildlife records, national environmental reports, the WWF, the national school environmental educational curriculum and to National Parks and Heritage Sites.

了解野生动物分布和丰富度的历史动态对于制定适当的保护措施至关重要。在这里，我们调查了莱索托山区王国和南非紧邻地区从晚更新世到现在的大中型动物群（不包括鸟类）的发生和状况。我们提供已报告的大中型动物类群的历史时间表和记录，其依据是：来自 8 个已发表考古发掘的数据、对数百个未发表的 19 和 20 世纪历史文件（包括传教士信件、日记、殖民报告和报纸）的分析，以及 58 个最近的口述历史访谈。根据古植物记录，还记录了全新世的植被和气候变化。通过这些来源，我们记录了过去约 21 ka 莱索托及周边地区的 61 种大中型动物物种，其中今天只有 22 种。该地区以前不知道的一些物种被记录在案（例如 Temminck 的穿山甲）。大多数物种在 19 世纪早期就已存在，但在 1845 年至 1850 年间发生了许多区域性物种灭绝和主要动物群数量下降，这主要是由于定居者的狩猎活动。由于过度狩猎、人类与野生动物冲突和栖息地丧失等因素，随后的灭绝发生在更广泛的时间间隔内。似乎一些分类群被迫进入不合适的山区避难所，物种最终在那里屈服于遗传侵蚀和/或恶劣的气候条件。我们的结果增加了当前对区域动物和环境变化的理解，例如莱索托的物种出现和灭绝事件和过程的时间。这些工作为了解该地区的环境遗产增加了宝贵的知识。信息可以传播到野生动物记录、国家环境报告、世界自然基金会、国家学校环境教育课程以及国家公园和遗产地。