Black Lechwe hunting in Zambia

Black Lechwe have shaggy black and tan with a white stomach. The hindquarters are taller than their shoulders and they have a short muzzle. The females are hornless and paler in colour than the males. The males have long, ringed, lyre-shaped horns, similar to their close cousins, Waterbuck. They are often found congregating in large herds. This endemic species can only be hunted on the floodplains surrounding the Bangweulu Swamps in Zambia. They have recently been introduced to a few other regions and private ranches in the country. Black Lechwe are well adapted to their aquatic habitat with oily foul-smelling waterproof coats and splayed, elongated hooves adapted to support their weight on the muddy ground. This water-repellent allows them to run quite freely in knee-deep water where they may be found feeding on aquatic vegetation. They are also strong swimmers and often graze in should deep water. Black Lechwe is classified as a vulnerable species by the IUCN, no special hunting permits are required. A Zambian hunting license must be purchased before the hunt.