- Where to see one
- 3 U.S. zoos in our directory hold nile lechwe, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the nile lechwe
The Nile lechwe, or Mrs Gray's lechwe, is an antelope of swamps and grasslands in South Sudan and Ethiopia. Males average 165 cm long and 90 to 120 kg, and are blackish-brown to russet with white hoods over the shoulders and ridged horns up to 87 cm; females are golden-brown and hornless. It lives in shallow water 10 to 40 cm deep, wading or swimming and eating succulent grasses and water plants. Most of the population lives in the Sudd swamps of South Sudan. Herds can hold up to 50 females and one male, and the species is crepuscular. The IUCN lists it as Endangered.
Nile Lechwe facts
- Males fight in the water, sometimes submerging their heads in horn-to-horn combat.
- Males urinate on their throat and cheek hair, then rub the dripping beard on a female.
- Females make a toad-like croaking sound when moving.
- A newborn calf is hidden in thick vegetation for two to three weeks while its mother nurses it.
Where to see nile lechwe in the U.S.
3 zoos across 2 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 3 zoos holding nile lechwe by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
California· 2
Missouri· 1
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
