Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
Lechwe are listed under the following: CITES - Appendix II; US ESA - Threatened; and IUCN - Vulnerable (Wilson, 1993). A century ago, the lechwe poplulation may have numbered half a million, but it has been dropping ever since then. The greatest change was between 1971 - 1987. This was due to the building of hydroelectric dams that changed the natural flooding cycle. Even poaching of these animals did not cause considerable damage to the population (Estes, 1991).
US Federal List: threatened
CITES: appendix ii
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Lechwe have been hunted and poached by humans for profit (Estes, 1991). Also, lechwe are one of many African mammals that are a tourist attraction (Stuart and Stuart, 1995).
Lechwe eat nutritious grasses that are found in flooded meadows. In order to get to their food, lechwe will feed in water up to their bellies. During the cool dry weather, they do not have to drink, but in the dry hot weather, they may need to drink up to three times a day (Estes, 1991).
Lechwe are found in the southern savanna in Africa. The population is centered in Zambia, but small populations of lechwe are found along rivers in Zambia, Angola, and Botswana (Estes, 1991).
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
Lechwe prefer areas of the flood plains that border swamps because they are close to water and food. The largest populations can be found on flat plains where the wet meadow is maintained throughout the flood cycle. When there is extreme flooding, lechwe take refuse in the woodlands (Estes, 1991).
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; forest ; scrub forest
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 15.0 years.
Lechwe are medium-sized antelopes, with heights ranging from 90 - 112 cm. The color of the lechwe is chestnut with white underparts, throat, and facial markings. Males darken with age. Lechwe have dark leg and body markings, and these markings vary in color, from black to red, and are noticeable between the different subspecies. The horns of the lechwe range in length from 45 - 92 cm and are relatively thin. Their hooves are adapted for swampy terrain. While lechwe do not have scent glands, their coats are greasy and have a distinct odor (Estes, 1991).
Range mass: 61.6 to 128 kg.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Lechwe breed in a two and a half month period during the rains, which is usually between November and February. Females are able to breed as early as one and a half years of age but males are not mature until five years of age. The gestation period is seven to eight months, and two thirds of the calves are born in a two month peak, from mid-July to mid-September on the Kafue Flats. When the mothers give birth, they either do so singly or in small groups. Calves are born in covered and dry areas and remain concealed for two to three weeks. Mothers suckle their young both early and late in the day. Once they are done hiding, young calves form groups of up to 50 young, which are mainly independent of their mothers. Calves are weaned in five to six months (Estes, 1991).
Range number of offspring: 1 to 1.
Range gestation period: 7.17 to 8.27 months.
Range weaning age: 5 to 6 months.
Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual
Average birth mass: 5100 g.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male: 1050 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 898 days.
Parental Investment: extended period of juvenile learning
The Red Lechwe (Kobus leche) is a heavily built antelope that is notable for its splayed, elongated hooves (which are generally hidden from view in water, mud, or grass). The eyes are widely spaced and the male has long horns that sweep back and are heavily annulated (i.e., with conspicuous ring-like divisions).
Red Lechwe are found in scattered locations in eastern Angola, eastern Namibia, northern Botswana, and western Zambia. They inhabit seasonal floodplains and shallow swamps adjacent to open water. The interface between inundated and dry grasslands is the most heavily used habitat. They tend to avoid woodlands and are rarely found in water deeper than 50 cm. They can move efficiently through flooded terrain using a bounding gait whereby all four feet touch the ground and leave the ground together. On hard ground, they are slow and clumsy. Lechwes are closely tied to swampy floodplains by their physiology and soft hooves. When water levels are low, predation by Lions (Panthera leo) and African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus) increases.
Kobus leche was long treated as a single species including as subspecies K. l. leche,K. l. kafuensis, and K. l. smithemani, but these taxa were treated by Cotterill (2005) and Huffman (2011) as full species, along with the closely related and newly recognized K. anselli.
Throughout much of the range of this species, populations have been decimated by unsustainable hunting, but they tend to do well in protected areas. Around 98,000 individuals are believed to exist in the wild, around 85% of them in the Okavango Delta of Botswana.
(Kingdon 1997; Cotterill 2005; Huffman 2011)
The lechwe, red lechwe, or southern lechwe (Kobus leche) is an antelope found in wetlands of south-central Africa.
The lechwe is native to Botswana, Zambia, southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, northeastern Namibia, and eastern Angola, especially in the Okavango Delta, Kafue Flats, and Bangweulu Wetlands. The species is fairly common in zoos and wild animal farms.
Adult lechwe typically stand 90 to 100 cm (35 to 39 in) at the shoulder and generally weigh from 50 to 120 kg (110 to 260 lb), with males being larger than females. They are golden brown with white bellies. Males are darker in colour, but exact hue and amount of blackish on the front legs, chest and body varies depending on subspecies. The long, spiral horns are vaguely lyre-shaped and borne only by males. The hind legs are somewhat longer in proportion than in other antelopes to ease long-distance running on marshy soil.
Adult red lechwes in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Female red lechwe,
Okavango Delta
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Juvenile red lechwe,
Okavango Delta
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Male red lechwes fighting,
Okavango Delta
Lechwe are found in marshy areas where they are an important herbivore of aquatic plants.[3] They use the knee-deep water as protection from predators. Their legs are covered in a water-repellant substance which allows them to run quite fast in knee-deep water. Lechwe are diurnal. They gather in herds which can include many thousands of individuals.[4] Herds are usually all of one sex, but during mating season they mix.[5]
Four subspecies of the lechwe have been recognized.[6][7]
In addition, the Upemba lechwe (Kobus anselli) and the extinct Cape lechwe (Kobus venterae) are also considered subspecies by some authorities (as Kobus leche anselli and Kobus leche venterae).[8][9]
Although related and sharing the name "lechwe", the Nile lechwe (K. megaceros) is consistently recognized as a separate species.[7]
Lechwe mate during rain seasons of November to February. They have a gestation period of seven to eight months so a majority of calves are born from July to September. [10] Although rare, hybrids between lechwe and waterbuck have been observed.[11]
The lechwe, red lechwe, or southern lechwe (Kobus leche) is an antelope found in wetlands of south-central Africa.
