Nile lechwe

Most active at dawn and dusk

The Nile lechwe has a very restricted geographic range. Native to the flood plains of the Nile River valley. Most of the wild population lives in southern Sudan and the rest in western Ethiopia.

They are attracted to water and wetlands, and the population is dispersed over water courses during the rainy season. During the dry season, these animals gather around the few remaining water resources.

The Nile lechwe is a diurnal and social species. They are gregarious but territorial animals. They form herds of 50 to 500 individuals. Within a herd, three social classes are formed: lactating females and their offspring, single males and mature males with territory.

Their main threats are habitat loss and hunting pressures.

The Selwo Aventura group is part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) European Endangered Species Program (EEP).

Conservation status

Extinct

Extinct in the wild

Critically endangered

Endangered

Vulnerable

Near threatened

Least concern

Insufficient data

Not evaluated

DID YOU KNOW...

that its herds are divided into three social groups? This separation means that lactating females and their young, single males, and mature, more territorial males are separated from each other.