How many different types of Lechwes are there? Is there a difference in the Red Lechwe from Botswana and the Kafue Lechwe in Zambia?

There are various lechwe occurring in different areas. See here:

http://www.shakariconnection.c...-species-i-to-n.html

And here:

http://www.shakariconnection.c...buck-kob-lechwe.html

Steve,
Thanks. I had heard about 4 Lechwe but now I know for sure - Nile, Red, Black and Kafue Lechwe.

Always a pleasure to be of help buddy!

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Steve,
Thanks. I had heard about 4 Lechwe but now I know for sure - Nile, Red, Black and Kafue Lechwe.

Yep and the reds are found in Botswana, Kaprivi in Namibia and part of the Kafue in Zambia.

Brett

OK, but what about the "Common Lechwe" in South Africa?

I thought these were transplanted Red Lechwe, am I mistaken? Is this a "created species" for record books?

To the best of my knowledge there are no lechwe indiginous to South Africa and so I assume the animals you're talking about must be some kind of introduction.

Sorry I can't be of more help on that one.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
OK, but what about the "Common Lechwe" in South Africa?

I thought these were transplanted Red Lechwe, am I mistaken? Is this a "created species" for record books?

Not a chance. They have them, but in no way are they indiginous. The farthest south they go (naturally) is the Okavango in Northern Botswana.

Natural Distribution:

red lechwe - Namibia's Caprivi, Botswana's Okavango, and Zambia's Kafue region

Kafue lechwe - Zambia's Kafue region

black lechwe - Zambia's Bangwelu region

Nile lechwe - Sudan and others????

They may have been transplanted to ranches in other areas, but they don't naturally occur there.

Brett

That is correct. The lechwes found in RSA are reds that have been introduced.

They are introduced, and if I remember correctly { Chappie Sparks did the research} a farmer in the Eastern Cape obtained two pair from the Pretoria Zoo way way back. They have gone forth and multiplied. It you have a look the photos that Shakari has provided, you will see that on the red lechwe, the dark brown on the front leg does not go all the way up to the shoulder. whereas the dark brown on the front leg of the Kafue goes up onto the shoulder.
Someone did try and introduce the red lechwe, but they did not take to swampless existence.

The Kafue manages quite well on dryland provided drinking water is available. Of course they are marketed as "reds" as Kafue's horns are longer.

As an aside, with the advent of the bio diversity horse wallop, East Cape Parks have got rid of all their lechwe, as well as blue wildebeest, waterbuck, nyala and will still get rid of other species that did not historically occur in the Eastern Cape.

There are rumours that land owners will also have to get rid of such species.