Red Lechwe - Kobus leche
As a result of its amphibious habits,
the lechwe is preyed on by a variety of predators, from crocodiles
and pythons to lions, leopards, spotted hyaenas and wild dogs. Like
the reedbuck, it sometimes flattens itself on the ground to avoid
detection, suddenly taking off in startled leaps and bounds. Lechwe
may congregate in hundreds or thousands, although most herds number
about 20-30 individuals. Lechwe easily become habituated to human
presence and are often seen close to lodges in the Okavango Delta
wehre, in some cases, they even seek refuge from predators by sheltering
under the floodlights of the lodge. Visitors to Khwai River Lodge
and Tsaro, while enjoying their dinner, have often been treated
by the sight of lechwe fleeing from a pride of hunting lions.
The ram will defend his territory
with threatening displays, and will fight if an intruder tries to
mate with one of his ewes. The clash of horns during these fierce,
sometimes fatal, duels may be heard a long distance away. Calves
can be born at any time of year. Cows leave the herd to give birth
and hide their newborn calves for two to three weeks in the shelter
of reeds on an island or other dry spot. Calf mortality is high:
usually about 50%.
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