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Red_Lechwe

Scientific Name:

Kobus leche

Description:

They are golden brown with a white belly. Males are darker in colour, but general hue varies depending on subspecies. The long spiral structured horns are vaguely lyre-shaped, they are found only in males. The hind legs are somewhat longer in proportion than in other antelopes, to ease long-distance running in marshy soil. Males generally darken with age. The underparts, neck, chin, mouth and lips are white. The black-tipped tail has a bushy white "flag" on the underside. The foreleg has a black stripe. The body is long, with the hindquarters higher than the shoulders. The hooves are long and relatively narrow, as an adaptation to the marshy environment. The elegantly swept back horns are found only in males, and grow 45-92 cm / 18-37 in. long. They are thin and back-slanted, with upturned tips, and are ridged along most of their length. Extremely at ease in the water, animals are regularly seen grazing in shoulder-deep water. They are good swimmers, but prefer to wade while walking on boggy ground. On solid land, their long, soft hooves are a disadvantage. Therefore, as seasonal floods and draughts occur, herds move in step with the water, grazing on the periphery of the flood plain.

Habitat:

Lechwe are found in marshy areas where they eat aquatic plants. They use the knee-deep water as protection from predators. Their legs are covered in a water repelling substance allowing them to run quite fast in knee-deep water.

Distribution:

The Lechwe, or Southern Lechwe, () is an antelope found in Botswana, Zambia, south-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, north-eastern Namibia, and eastern Angola, especially in the Okavango Delta,Kafue Flats and Bangweulu Swamps.

Size :

Lechwe stand 90 to 100 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh from 70 to 120 kilograms.

Lifespan:

Males 1 to 12 years and females 9 to 10 years

Contact Us

Owner - Professional Hunter and outfitter: Zirk Roeloffse

USA Contact: Scott Lintner

Address: Pretoria North, South Africa

Phone: +27 83 686 5972

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