|
Kafue
Flats Lechwe
|
|
Kobus
lechwe kafuensis
|
|
Botswana,
Zambia and south east Zaire
|
Measurements
Height:
1 meter at shoulder
Weight: 70 to 120 kg
Diet
It spends much of its time grazing on aquatic plants.Identification
The Kafue lechwe is a medium sized, reddish brown antelope with a white underside. They have distinctive black markings on the face and front legs.Behaviour
If disturbed it runs at great speed,
with impressive leaps, and takes refuge in water since it is a good swimmer.
It gathers in large herds, which can number thousands. During the mating
season (October through January) the sexes mix in the herd. After that
period they form separate herds. The lechwe is preyed on by cheetahs,
lions, leopards, wild dogs, and large birds.
Distribution & Habitat
Native to Botswana, Zambia and south east ZaireReproduction
The gestation period lasts for 7 to 8 months, after which the female gives birth to a single young.Conservation
This small antelope was placed under threat when, in 1978, the Kafue gorge hydroelectric scheme reduced its numbers from 94,000 to 47,000. The scheme deprived the animal, which is adapted to life on flood plains and swamps