A brand new analysis research consists of the first-ever printed picture of a reside Upemba lechwe, a subspecies of crimson lechwe antelope. These uncommon animals solely reside within the Upemba wetlands within the Democratic Republic of Congo. The picture is grainy, however scientists are nonetheless thrilled about it. Nevertheless, not all of the information is sweet.
One in every of Africa’s “most endangered and least-known antelopes,” the Upemba lechwe (Kobus anselli) is probably on the point of extinction. Whereas the brand new research studies the sighting of 10 people within the Kamalondo Despair the place the antelopes reside, researchers consider there are fewer than 100 of those animals left within the wild.
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“This research supplies the primary documented information because the species was described in 2005, and the primary survey try in over 50 years,” the researchers wrote within the research’s summary. “With an estimated inhabitants possible numbering fewer than 100 in an space with little safety, this species faces imminent extinction as a consequence of poaching. Pressing conservation measures are important to stop its disappearance.”
See the primary printed picture of the Upemba lechwe right here:
Entry the research on the Upemba lechwe here.
Unique header picture from “Standing Replace on the Critically Endangered Upemba Lechwe (Kobus anselli)” by Manuel Weber, Ruffin Mpanga, Julien Mbulanga, Cameron Dobbie. Revealed: 25 Might 2025: https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70060.