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Although it has a limited distribution, the Cape Dune Mole-rat is listed as Least Concern because it is common within its range and survives successfully within environments modified by humans, such as agricultural areas. In some areas they are considered locally abundant and even a pest. There are no major threats to this species.
Endemic to South Africa, this species ranges along the coast of the Western Cape from Knysna to Lamberts Bay and Klawer. Additionally, this species is present in the Northern Cape near Groenrivier, having recorded from Rondawel (Monadjem et al. 2015), where it occurs sympatrically with B. janetta (Faulkes et al. 2004). Its range extends inland approximately 80 km from South Africa’s western coastline. Generally, this species occurs at altitudes below 300 m above sea level, and its range is discontinuous along South Africa’s west coast, fragmented by mountains and rivers (Visser et al. 2014).
Visser et al. (2014) found three major lineages across the species’ distribution with the sister species, B. janetta, regarded as paraphyletic with respect to this species. These lineages pertain to the West Coast, Struisbaai and Sedgefield areas, evidently separated by the Hottentots Holland Mountains and the Breede River, which act as phylogeographic disruptors. Importantly, however, every studied population (10 in total) was genetically unique in both their mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. It therefore seems that populations greater than 30 km apart may be considered as subpopulations due to a lack of gene-flow between them. Additionally, Visser et al. (2014) also found populations to be demographically stable or even expanding, with limited evidence of inbreeding. Within grassland habitats, population densities of this species have been recorded to reach over 300/ha (J.U.M. Jarvis unpubl. data).
The main threat to this species is habitat destruction due to the expansion of and human settlements and intensive agricultural production (sensu Rouget et al. 2003). While intensive agricultural production may reduce available habitat they can exist in agricultural landscapes, sometimes in high numbers if the area remains unworked for a couple of years. For example, all animals sampled in Visser et al. (2014) study were from agricultural areas that displayed no inbreeding and had demographically stable populations. Additionally, they are commonly killed on roads while dispersing above ground. Males sometimes range longer distances than usual in search of a mate, and Mole-rats are also forced above ground when seasonal flooding takes place. In some parts of its range this species is classified as a pest, resulting in pest control procedures. Climate change is unlikely to have an impact on this species as geology and drainage evolution has a larger influence on its distribution than does climate.
Cape Dune Mole-rats are utilised local communities as an additional source of protein, where the meat is considered a delicacy (Skinner and Chimimba 2005). For example, De Graaff (1981) recorded that four or five were caught weekly by some families, this being their only source of protein apart from fish.