Mrs Gray's lechwe, Mrs gray's lechwe
The Nile lechwe is an endangered species of African antelope. They have shaggy coats with the hair on the cheeks particularly long in both sexes, and males may have even longer hair on their necks. Females are golden-brown with white underbellies and no horns. Juveniles also have a golden-brown coat, but the color changes to dark brown in young males when they reach 2-3 years of age. Adult males are blackish-brown to russet with white 'hoods' over their shoulders and small white patches over their eyes. The horns of the adult males are strongly ridged at their bases and are curved at the tips.
Nile lechwe are native to South Sudan and Ethiopia. These animals usually occur on the open savanna and in shallow waters bordering deeper swamps, where the water is 10-40 cm (4-16 in) deep. In South Sudan, the majority of the population occurs in the Sudd swamps, and the rest are found in the Machars near the Ethiopian border. In Ethiopia, they occur in the southwest, in Gambella National Park.
Nile lechwe are crepuscular being active in the early morning and late afternoon. They gather in herds of up to 50 females and one male or in smaller all-male herds. They divide themselves into three social groups: females and their newborn calves, bachelor males, and mature males with territories. A male with the territory sometimes allows a bachelor male into his territory to guard the region. Nile lechwe can visually signal and vocalize to communicate with each other. They rear high in the air in front of their opponents and turn their heads to the side while displaying. Females are quite loud, making a toad-like croaking when moving. When fighting, males duck their heads and use their horns to push against each other. If one male is significantly smaller than the other, he may move next to the larger male in a parallel position and push from there. This prevents the larger male from pushing with all his force. Nile lechwe are excellent swimmers and when disturbed they usually flee to water; however, females defend their offspring from smaller predators by direct attack, mainly kicking.
Nile lechwe are herbivorous (graminivorous, folivorous) animals. They feed on succulent grasses and aquatic plants. Wild rice is their preferred food at the start of the flood season. Nile lechwe have the special capability to wade in shallow waters and swim in deeper waters, and may feed on young leaves from trees and bushes, rearing up to reach this green vegetation.
Nile lechwe are polygynous and one male mates with more than one female during each breeding season. Mating occurs throughout the year, but peaks between February and May. During mating season, Nile lechwe have a unique form of marking. The male bends his head to the ground and urinates on his throat and cheek hair and then rubs his beard on the female's forehead and rump. Males also fight in the water, their heads submerging in horn-to-horn combat, for dominance. These contests are usually short and violent. The gestation period is 7-9 months long, after which a single calf is born. After its birth, the calf is kept hidden in thick vegetation for 2-3 weeks, where the mother nurses it. It is weaned at 5-6 months, and a few months later is ready to be independent and join the herd. Both males and females reach reproductive maturity when they are 2 years old.
These animals suffer from hunting, competition with livestock, expansion of human settlements and habitat degradation. The habitat of Nile lechwe has been severely affected by civil wars, human displacement and resettlement, firearm attacks and increased hunting. Even their seasonal movements were restricted due to large populations of cattle in and around their range.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of Nile lechwe is around 32,000 individuals. There is an estimated population of the species in the following area: Machar-Gambella - less than 1,000 animals. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
Due to their grazing habits, Nile lechwe may help reduce grass fires, creating this way a natural firewall. These antelopes are also key prey for crocodiles as they spend long periods of time in the water.
