Thomson’s gazelle is one of the most graceful and agile of all antelopes. It lives in large herds near sources of water on the grasslands of North Africa. The Thomson’s gazelle faces a formidable army of predators, ranging from the big cats to man. To survive, it depends on both its sharp senses and its ability to sprint away at a speed that only the cheetah can match.

Habits: The Thomson’s gazelle lives on the savannah grasslands of Tanzania and Kenya and in the drier bush country of the African Sudan. This sociable gazelle roams in herds as large as 200 animals. Each herd has clear social divisions: adult males tend to remain apart from the bachelor, or immature males, while females with young herd more closely together. Living in such open country, the Thomson’s gazelle is alert for any sign or scent of its numerous enemies – the most feared is the cheetah. Although easily frightened, the Thomson’s gazelle may graze peacefully within view of a napping pride of lions. The Thomson’s gazelle has conspicuous black stripes along its flanks. They help break up the animal’s outline and make it harder for a predator to spot it from a distance. 

Food and Feeding: Most gazelles eat a wide variety of vegetation, but the Thomson’s feeds mainly on grass. During the rainy season on the savannah, as much as 90 percent of its diet is grass. During the dry season, when the grass dies, the gazelle leaves the parched plains and moves into the brush. It adapts its diet to include the tender shoots and new leaves of shrubs and small trees. The gazelle grazes by gripping and biting the vegetation with its sharp incisor teeth. Each mouthful is chewed thoroughly before being swallowed. 

The gazelle has an extremely efficient digestive system common to all ruminants (cud chewers): it swallows the food and digests it in its rumen (first stomach) before regurgitating and chewing it again. After the gazelle swallows a second time, the food passes through three more stomachs so that all the nutrients are extracted. The Thomson’s gazelle needs only a small quantity of water to survive.

Breeding: The Thomson’s gazelle breeds year round. But in part of its range, the births coincide with the greatest availability of food. During breeding season, adult males establish territories that they mark with urine, dung, and a strong scent produced by glands near their eyes. These territories are often small, with as few as 1,000 feet separating males competing for the attention of the females. Despite its dainty appearance, the Thomson’s gazelle is aggressive. If one male trespasses on another’s territory, they fight fiercely. The pair will lower their heads, lock horns, and test one another’s strength. Eventually, one of them leaves the territory. Immature males prepare for these trials in mock battles against one another, but fights between adults can become violent. Fights between male gazelles occur when one intrudes on another’s territory.

Once a male marks his territory, he mates with any mature females that stray into it. He may even herd a group of females into his territory, but the male will not follow them into a rival gazelle’s established area. After a five month gestation period, the female Thomson’s gazelle moves a short distance away from the herd and gives birth to a single calf. The dark brown calf hides in the grass, camouflaged from predators, during its first week of life. There may be several generations of gazelle in one family.

Thomson’s Gazelle and Man: The gazelle has long been preyed on by man for food. More recently, it has been pursued by trophy hunters. As a result, the gazelle’s numbers have been reduced, although it still remains quite common. The greatest threat to the Thomson’s gazelle comes not from the hunter, but from the farmer. Domestic sheep, goats, and cattle require much the same diet as the Thomson’s gazelle. Thus, the livestock is in competition with the gazelle for food and water. Farmers who increase grazing lands and water sources for their livestock may reduce the number of gazelle. Also, the gazelle’s seasonal migrations are becoming restricted by stock fences that are erected across the once open grasslands.

Key Facts:
Sizes:
Height: At shoulder, 1-2 ft.
Head and body length: 2-3 ft.
Horn length: Male, 1 ½ ft. Female smaller
Weight: Male, 20-40 lbs.

Breeding:
Sexual maturity: 1 year
Breeding season: Varies with climate; often all year
Gestation: 5 months
No. of young: Usually 1

Lifestyle:
Habit: Sociable, wary; seasonally migrant
Diet: Mainly grass
Lifespan: 10-15 years

Related Species: Close relatives include the jebeer, Gazella Dorcas, Speke’s gazelle, G. spekei, and the red fronted gazelle, G. rufifrons.
Distribution: Found in large numbers throughout the drier regions of Kenya and Tanzania, from Laikipia plateau to Masailand. Isolated numbers in the southern Sudan.
Conservation: Some protection is available within wildlife parks and reserves. The species faces increasing habitat loss and competition from domestic livestock.

Features of the Thomson’s Gazelle:
Coat: The coat is short and smooth. The back is light brown. Across the flanks are bands of light brown and distinctive brown and black streaks. The underside and belly are white. 
Face: Both male and female have a light brown stripe running from the forehead to the nose.
Horns: The male’s horns are thick, ringed, and lyre shaped. The female’s are thinner, ringless, and straight.

Did You Know:
The Thomson’s gazelle can sprint at speeds of up to 50 miles an hour. It can also maintain speed at over 35 miles an hour for about 15 minutes.
Pronking is when a gazelle leaps vertically into the air while running. This maneuver probably confuses and frightens an attacker and gives the gazelle a clearer view of its surroundings.
The Thomson’s gazelle was named for Joseph Thomson, a nineteenth century Scottish explorer.
Gazelles do not shed their horns each year; they are permanent bones.

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