The ‘Forgotten Antelope’ Has Been Spotted in the Wild

The ‘Forgotten Antelope’ Has Been Spotted in the Wild

The post The ‘Forgotten Antelope’ Has Been Spotted in the Wild appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Some animals are so rare, they are more like myths than living, breathing organisms. Take the Upemba lechwe, for example. It’s a subspecies of the red lechwe antelope that lives in a small region of wetlands in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For the first time in history, researchers have published a photograph of a living Upemba lechwe antelope.

As reported in The Guardian, scientists, by way of a single picture, have provided a long-awaited update to the status of this fleeting animal. Let’s learn more about this rare antelope, what little is known about its characteristics and habits, and how human impact on its wetland habitat is driving this creature dangerously close to extinction.

What Is the Upemba Lechwe?

Upemba lechwe live exclusively in the Kamalondo Depression in the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

©Alexandra Tyukavina/Shutterstock.com

Not much is known about the Upemba lechwe. For most of the 20th century, scientists believed the Upemba lechwe was simply a regional population of the Congo’s red lechwe antelope. In 2005, however, an analysis of museum specimens collected in 1926 and 1948 resulted in a reclassification. Upemba lechwe are now considered a subspecies of red antelope, endemic to the Kamalondo Depression in the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The fact that it took a review of museum specimens to glean this insight speaks to the mystery of the Upemba lechwe. Physically, these antelopes stand between 35 and 39 inches tall and weigh between 150 and 260 pounds. Males have a darker color and grow long, spiral horns that resemble archaic stringed instruments like lyres. Both males and females have a golden brown coat, with white fur on their bellies. Compared to other antelopes, Upemba lechwe have longer hind legs. This likely helps them traverse their marshy, wetland habitat.

Beyond that, this creature remains a mystery. Little is known about its habits, social dynamics, or other aspects of its life—a situation likely caused by human activity. Since the 1970s, the population of the Upemba lechwe has fallen drastically due to commercial poaching. What was once a population of 20,000 presumed red lechwe antelopes has now declined to fewer than one thousand individuals of this distinct subspecies. Even that number, however, is questioned. Experts suggest that the true number of Upemba lechwe is under 100.

An Unexpected Update

Manuel Weber captured the first recorded photo of an Upemba lechwe earlier this year.

©Travel Stock/Shutterstock.com

Imagine the surprise of one researcher when he managed to capture the first published photo of a living Upemba lechwe earlier this year. While undertaking an arduous survey for the creature, Manuel Weber of the Upemba National Parks Department of Research and Biomonitoring struck gold. As reported in The Guardian, Weber endured several sleepless nights while surveying for the Upemba lechwe. Fearing he wouldn’t find any specimens, which would suggest the species was truly extinct, Weber suddenly spotted a herd of ten roaming through the marshlands.

Although the herd moved too quickly to be fully documented, Weber managed to snap a single photo of a lingering Upemba lechwe antelope. This turned out to be the first-ever published photo of a living Upemba lechwe. Due to the absence of dark stripes along its legs and dark shoulder patches, as well as the presence of a white throat stripe distinct from its light-colored belly, researchers were able to confirm that the animal in question was a member of the elusive Upemba lechwe subspecies. As Weber notes, this photo not only provides concrete evidence of the species’ existence but also helps rally support for a creature facing extinction.

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Researchers hope the Upemba lechwe photo will rally support for this antelope before it’s too late.

©Cocos.Bounty/Shutterstock.com

The photo, published in the African Journal of Ecology, serves two purposes. First, it provides much-needed proof of an animal long forgotten. Second, it reinforces the need for some type of conservation effort to save the Upemba lechwe before it’s too late.

As Weber told The Guardian, media attention is important for the animal’s conservation cause. Without a photo, it’s hard to raise awareness for the Upemba lechwe. It’s even harder to allocate resources for its protection. The study in the African Journal of Ecology outlines several strategies to prevent the animal’s extinction: establishing a permanent staff of anti-poaching rangers in the region, conducting additional surveys to refine population estimates in relation to human encroachment, and evaluating the viability of onsite protection measures.

This elusive antelope is one of the rarest large mammals in the world, and its already small population continues to decline due to illegal poaching. In the early 1990s, Upemba lechwe meat was regularly shipped to markets in Bukama, the nearest big city. Weber and other researchers hope this single, grainy photo will rally the support needed to keep the Upemba lechwe from becoming a true ghost.

The post The ‘Forgotten Antelope’ Has Been Spotted in the Wild appeared first on A-Z Animals.

May 30, 2025 at 05:02PMTad Malone