Kafue Lechwe | Kobus leche ssp. kafuensis

Kafue Lechwe, a genus of waterbuck and a subspecies of the Southern Lechwe, is endemic to the Kafue Flats, Zambia and can also be found in small parts in Angola and Botswana. This antelope species lives on swamps and in flooded areas. It feeds almost exclusively on marsh grasses. To move well in the muddy ground, they have developed widely spreadable claws that keep them from sinking. Take a close look at their coat color: the Kafue lechwe is reddish brown at the back and white at the bottom of the belly, the forelegs have black stripes.

In this antelope species, only the males wear horns. Lechwe love water and mud and can even swim very well. In case of danger they dive so far under water that only their nostrils are visible. In nature, their population is endangered, as there are fewer and fewer wetlands in which this species of antelope can be found. The lechwe have developed a special ritual for applying to females: they like to dig in their own faeces and urine and distribute this mixture on their fur. This marker acts on the females like a lure. At the same time, the territory is also demarcated and helps females and young animals with the orientation. The gestation time is about 235 days, and the calf is nursed by the mother for up to six months.

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