Latest news with #UpembaLechwe
Miami Herald
29-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Increasingly rare antelope — one of less than 100 — photographed at park in DRC
For two days, a team of scientists flew back and forth across a patch of grassland in central Africa searching for flashes of a tannish brown animal: the Upemba lechwe, an increasingly rare and incredibly skittish antelope. Their efforts resulted in an encouraging photo — but also led them to a heart-wrenching conclusion. The Upemba lechwe is 'one of Africa's most endangered and least-known antelopes,' found only in the Upemba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, park officials said in a May 26 news release. Scientists have known about this antelope for decades and, although they debate its exact species classification, agree that it is critically endangered. 'This is a species on the very brink,' Manuel Weber, a ranger with the park, said in the release. Weber and a team of researchers set out to survey the Upemba lechwe's population in March, flying a four-seater airplane systematically across the antelope's preferred range in the national park, according to a study published May 25 in the African Journal of Ecology. 'I was devastated after the first day, since we did connect with a few Upemba lechwe, but they were running for their life, so no way to capture them on camera,' Weber told The Guardian. 'It was in the morning of the second day, that a single individual stopped for just a few seconds — long enough for me to press the (camera) trigger — before running off like the other individuals we have seen.' The image, which researchers said is the 'first published photograph' of an Upemba lechwe, shows the tan and white antelope looking up toward the camera. 'We hope this image becomes a rallying cry,' Weber said in the park's release. 'Because this may be our only chance to save this species.' During their survey, the team only saw 10 Upemba lechwe and estimated that fewer than 100 of these antelope remain, making them 'one of the rarest large mammals on Earth.' 'The fact that only 10 individuals were found — compared to up to 22,000 recorded half a century ago — indicates an alarming risk of extinction,' the study said. The antelopes are threatened by poaching, hunting and human encroachment. 'The fact that they're still hanging on at all is extraordinary,' Weber said in the release, 'but without urgent protection, they'll vanish.' Researchers concluded that 'without immediate intervention, the Upemba Lechwe faces imminent risk of extinction.' The research team included Weber, Ruffin Mpanga, Julien Mbulanga and Cameron Dobbie.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Upemba Lechwe: Super rare African antelope photographed for the first time
A super rare antelope has been photographed by conservationists for the very first animal - called a Upemba Lechwe - was spotted in the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, in central say that unlike other antelopes in the area, Upemba Lechwe are known for their lack of dark stripes on their legs and lack of dark patches on their thought there are only around 100 of the species living in the wild. What did experts find? The rare Upemba Lechwe were spotted by wildlife researchers during an aerial survey of the Kamalondo Depression, an area in the south of the to the study, published in the African Journal of Ecology, this was the first attempt to count the species in more than 50 say they spotted just ten of the antelopes, which suggests that their population is below one of the researchers was able to quickly take a picture of one of the animals through the window of the aeroplane before it ran away. Manuel Weber, who was part of the team and led the survey, told the BBC it was "extremely nerve-wracking" but that he was "relieved" to get the image."It stood still for just a couple of seconds before running," Mr Weber added that the area where the Upemba Lechwe were found is "a magical place in terms of biodiversity."Conservationists say that a number of issues, including increasing human population, fishing and hunting, put the local ecology "at risk" and warned that the rare antelopes will "vanish" without "urgent protection".
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rare antelope revealed in published photo
In a world first, wildlife researchers have snapped and published a photo of one of the most endangered African animals - a rare and relatively unknown antelope called the Upemba Lechwe. Researchers carried out an aerial survey in the Kamalondo Depression, an area in southern Democratic Republic of Congo, which spotted just 10 of the antelopes - indicating their population is below 100. Manuel Weber, who led the survey and subsequent research, described the species as "on the very brink", according to a statement from the Upemba National Park. The Upemba Lechwe are known for the lack of dark stripes on their legs unlike other antelopes in the area, researchers say. They are also distinct due to the absence of dark patches on their shoulders. The area the Upemba Lechwe were found is "a magical place in terms of biodiversity", Mr Weber told the BBC. He however warned that it is an "incredibly challenging" setting with regards to conservation. He said several issues including increasing human population, fishing and hunting put the areas ecology "at risk". The fact the Upemba Lechwe is "still hanging on at all is extraordinary", Mr Weber added in the national park's statement, but warned that they will "vanish" without "urgent protection". "This may be our only chance to save this species." According to the study, published in the African Journal of Ecology, this was the first attempt to survey the species in more than 50 years. DR Congo has a history of famous wildlife pictures. In 2019 a picture went viral taken at the Virunga National Park when two gorillas posed for a photo with their ranger. Last elephant at South African zoo freed after 40 years Zimbabwe's dilemma over deadly elephant attacks South African rhinos: Poaching on the rise in new hotspot Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
DR Congo: Study reveals first ever published photo of rare Upemba Lechwe antelope, it says
In a world first, wildlife researchers have snapped and published a photo of one of the most endangered African animals - a rare and relatively unknown antelope called the Upemba carried out an aerial survey in the Kamalondo Depression, an area in southern Democratic Republic of Congo, which spotted just 10 of the antelopes - indicating their population is below Weber, who led the survey and subsequent research, described the species as "on the very brink", according to a statement from the Upemba National Park. The Upemba Lechwe are known for the lack of dark stripes on their legs unlike other antelopes in the area, researchers say. They are also distinct due to the absence of dark patches on their area the Upemba Lechwe were found is "a magical place in terms of biodiversity", Mr Weber told the however warned that it is an "incredibly challenging" setting with regards to said several issues including increasing human population, fishing and hunting put the areas ecology "at risk".The fact the Upemba Lechwe is "still hanging on at all is extraordinary", Mr Weber added in the national park's statement, but warned that they will "vanish" without "urgent protection"."This may be our only chance to save this species."According to the study, published in the African Journal of Ecology, this was the first attempt to survey the species in more than 50 Congo has a history of famous wildlife pictures. In 2019 a picture went viral taken at the Virunga National Park when two gorillas posed for a photo with their ranger. You may also be interested in: Last elephant at South African zoo freed after 40 yearsZimbabwe's dilemma over deadly elephant attacksSouth African rhinos: Poaching on the rise in new hotspot Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Nearly extinct ‘forgotten antelope' photographed for first time in DRC
A photograph of Africa's 'forgotten antelope' has been published for the first time as the elusive creature dives towards extinction. Fewer than 100 Upemba lechwe are thought to remain, with an aerial survey in the Kamalondo depression of the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo having recorded 10 individuals. Though the herd cantered too quickly out of sight to be recorded, one stopped for an instant, looking up at the scientists recording them. This allowed Manuel Weber, of Upemba national park's department of research and biomonitoring, to snap a quick picture, thought to be the first photo taken of a living Upemba lechwe since it was identified as a subspecies in 2005. The antelope stopped for 'literally a few seconds', Weber said. 'The feeling was unbelievable, I barely slept the nights before we found it, very worried that we would not be able to do the survey, that we would not find any (in that case we would be responsible for the extinction of a species), and the need to get that photograph to generate the awareness needed to save them,' Weber said. Findings published in the African Journal of Ecology provide the first population update in more than 50 years. 'This is a species on the very brink,' Weber, the lead author, added. 'The fact that they're still hanging on at all is extraordinary, but without urgent protection, they'll vanish.' The Upemba lechwe is now considered one of the world's rarest large mammals and is at imminent risk of extinction due to illegal poaching. The number one threat to its numbers is hunting, Weber said. 'Up to 22,000 individuals were counted in the early 1970s, that was before the Upemba lechwe was described as a species. In the early 1990s, the meat of dozens was shipped every week to Bukama, the largest city in the area, along the Lualaba River. 'I don't see any problem with meat harvesting by the communities in the landscape, but this is only possible when we have viable populations. The question is, how do we get back to those?' Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion The authors urge rapid intervention to protect the last animals of their kind, and hope that this photograph helps galvanise attention and resources to the forgotten antelope. 'I knew that we needed that photograph – otherwise we would have no way to get any media attention for the cause, and I was devastated after the first day, since we did connect with a few Upemba lechwe, but they were running for their life, so no way to capture them on camera,' Weber explained. 'It was in the morning of the second day, that a single individual stopped for just a few seconds – long enough for me to press the trigger – before running off like the other individuals we have seen. 'We hope this image becomes a rallying cry,' Weber adds. 'Because this may be our only chance to save this species.'
