Antelopes
Red Lechwe
Red Lechwe spoor is identified like this: long, pointed, and splayed cloven hooves, adapted for wading in marshy areas.
Anatomy Card
Spoor Signature
Red Lechwe
Field Intelligence
"Long, pointed, and splayed cloven hooves, adapted for wading in marshy areas. Similar to Sitatunga but slightly less extreme."
Spoor Profile
| Species | Red Lechwe |
|---|---|
| Group | Antelopes |
| Track signature | Long, pointed, and splayed cloven hooves, adapted for wading in marshy areas. Similar to Sitatunga but slightly less extreme. |
| Activity pattern | Antelope move between grazing and water through the day, so their spoor accumulates on road verges and around waterholes in dense, overlapping trails. |
Identification Protocol
- 1
Analyze the substrate. Soft river sand near Skukuza will provide deep, clear imprints, while hard northern mopaneveld soil requires looking for shallow "ticks" or claw marks.
- 2
Look for the stride length. A walking Red Lechwe will leave a regular, repeating pattern. Changes in gait often signal proximity to water or recent predator interaction.
Compare Similar Spoor
Spoor that trackers routinely compare against Red Lechwe prints in the field: