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Book your LIONSROCK accommodation here.
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Lechwe
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Scientific name:
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Kobus leche
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Body lengths:
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Males: 1 m
Females: 95 cm
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Weight:
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Males: 113 kg
Females: 71 kg
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Gestation period:
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7-8 months
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Appearance
The rump is distinctly higher than the shoulders. Reddish yellow upper parts, darker on the back than on the flanks and legs. White on the under parts, with a white band up the front of the neck and onto the lower jaw (no such band in puku or impala). The tail hangs almost to the hocks, with a black brush at the end. Only the males have horns; long (shorter in puku), spreading back and outwards, then curving smoothly inwards and forwards, strongly ridged except at the tips. Females have two pairs of mammae between their hind legs.
Behavior
Most active in the early morning. Feeds up to 1 km from water; drinks up to 3 times a day in hot weather, and moves closer to water at night. Trends to rest on termite heaps for better visibility. Always flees towards water, where its high rump allows it to run at high speed with the back legs tucked high under the body.
Usually in small groups of 1-5, sometimes in herds of up to 120. Breeding rams hold territories of 2-6 ha (exceptionally as small as 0,5 ha) in areas of rich grazing, occupied throughout the year. They advertise their status with a broadside display to intruders. Subordinate males hold their heads low with their horns back along the neck. Fights involve pushing contests and escalate to attempts to gore the opponent with sweeps of the horns. Losers break and run and may be pursued over considerable distances.
Female herds move through male territories. A ram checks a female’s reproductive status by sniffing and flehmen of her genitals and urine, and courts by trapping her between the hind legs with a foreleg, putting his muzzle under her belly, and resting his chin on her rump. Several mounting attempts may be necessary before mating is achieved.
Lambs lie hidden for up to two months. Once they are mobile they spend more time with other lambs than with their mothers.
Reproduction
Single lambs have a birth weight of 5 kg and wean at 7 months. In Linyanti swamp 80% of breading is in December-March and birth peak in August-October. In the Okavango swamp births peak in October-December. Timing is possibly dependent on the progress of the flood. Females mature at 2 years; males are sexually mature at 2 years but do not mate until they hold territory at 3-4 years. Preyed on by lions and leopards.
Diet
An almost pure grazer; more than 99% of the diet is grasses and sedges.
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Bank account name:
LIONSROCK PARK
Bank and Code:
First National Bank - South Africa FNB-230133
Account No: 62165825583
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