Monitoring the endangered population of the antelope Kobus leche smithemani (Artiodactyla: Bovidae), in the Bangweulu ecosystem, Zambia

Black lechwe (Kobus leche smithemani) is a semi-aquatic medium sized antelope currently enlisted on the IUCN red list of endangered species and is only endemic to the Bangweulu basin of Zambia. Its population has significantly decreased due to floods that took place during the period 1930-1940 from over 250 000-15 000 leading the Zambian government to gazette all habitats of Black lechwe into state protected areas, and to establish urgent management strategies needed to save the remaining population from extinction. Using retrospective data, our findings show that the population has increased from 15 000 animals in 1954 to 55 632 in 2009. The current population is estimated at 34.77% (55 632/160 000) of the carrying capacity of the Bangweulu basin. Although the Black lechwe is one of the 42 species offered for consumptive utilization by the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), only 0.12% and 0.08% of the current stock was offered for safari and resident hunting annually for the period 2005-2009, respectively. Annual quota utilization were estimated at 67% (n=37) and 81% (n=37) for safari and resident hunting, respectively. Hence, overall income obtained from utilization of Black lechwe is very low accounting for only 2.1% of the total revenue earned from wildlife utilization. Although the current population trend is showing a unit increase of 639 animals per year, it is still far below levels ideal for the lucrative utilization. In this study, we demonstrate that adverse ecological changes on wildlife species, can lead to their vulnerability and danger of extinction, and that their recovery to full carrying capacity may demand a considerable amount of time.Original Abstract: El lechwe negro (Kobus Icche smithemani) es un antilope semi-acuatico de tamano medio que en la actualidad se encuentra en la lista roja de la UICN de especies en peligro de extincion y solo es endemica de la cuenca del Bangweulu de Zambia. Su poblacion ha disminuido considerablemente, de mas de 250 000 a 15 000, debido a las inundaciones que se dieron durante el periodo 1930-1940, lo que llevo al gobierno de Zambia a declarar todos los habitats del lechwe negro en areas protegidas estatales, y a establecer estrategias de administracion urgentes necesarias para salvar el resto de la poblacion de la extincion. Utilizando los datos retrospectivos, nuestros resultados muestran que la poblacion ha aumentado de 15 000 animales en 1954 a 55 632 en 2009. La poblacion actual se estima en 34.77% (