LUSAKA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A survey conducted by wildlife authorities in two national parks in Zambia has revealed a drop in the population of the lechwe, an official said on Friday.
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife, with the support of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Crane Foundation (ICF), conducted a survey last November to establish the lechwe population in the Blue Lagoon National Park and the Kafue Game Management Area.
The survey was meant to determine the population of large herbivore, especially the lechwe, and also some water bird species.
The survey also covered the hippo population in the Luangwa River, situated in the eastern part of the country.
Sakabilo Kalembwe, spokesperson of the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, said the survey has revealed that the lechwe population had declined from 28,711 in 2015 to 23,306.
He attributed the decline of the lechwe population to rampant poaching by communities living near the two national parks.
Meanwhile, the survey also revealed a decline of about 800 hippos from the previous count.
The spokesperson said the current hippo population in the river stands at 12,498 on a river stretch of 270 kilometers.
