The last Nile lechwe (Kobus megaceros) antelope population in Ethiopia is facing extinction due to habitat conversion and encroachment. In the past 21 years, hunting combined with continuous habitat loss have reduced the lechwe population by more than 50%. This led to a change in the species status to Endangered on the 2013 IUCN Red List. The populations of Nile lechwe in Ethiopia and South Sudan were once believed to be connected by a small migration corridor that followed the Sobat River between human settlements. However the construction of the Jongeli Canal in 1978 interfered with the movements of Nile lechwe and other species. A 1983 survey undertaken in Southern Sudan, found no lechwe east of the Jongeli Canal, supporting the hypothesis that the Canal might have divided the Nile lechwe population in two: one sub-population in South Sudan and another in Ethiopia. Over time, these two isolated populations might have experienced inbreeding and genetic drift. However while the Nile lechwe population in (South) Sudan has been relatively well studied, information on the population in Ethiopia is extremely limited. This study presents results from three years of monitoring activities (including three aerial sample surveys and one total count survey on the entire Nile lechwe population) in Gambella, southwestern Ethiopia. We also report the results of the first-year monitoring data from GPS collars mounted on four Nile lechwe in Ethiopia. In fact, this represents the first ever collaring mission undertaken on a Nile lechwe population in the wild.

The results of these monitoring activities revealed that Ethiopia has only 180 individuals of Nile lechwe left in approximately 50 sq. km. of wetland area in the Gambella region. This habitat is already fragmented into three parts due to continuous anthropogenic pressure in the form of draining water from the wetland and livestock, community and commercial agriculture encroachments.

The results and biodiversity information on Nile lechwe and other key species, and other phenomena are now being aggregated and validated to develop a holistic and integrated land use plan that will harmonize the suitable land use and development alternatives while maintaining resilience of ecosystems in the Gambella landscape, including redefining existing protected and proposing other network of protected areas.