The Elegant Dorcas Gazelle

(Photo: Frithjof Spangenberg)

   
     The Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas) is closely related to the mountain gazelle, but is different on a few points. They have longer ears and they have curvier horns.
     These species can be found in northern Africa and throughout the Sahara and Negev deserts and parts of the Middle East. Their coats vary in coloration, depending on the subspecies and location.


Life in the Desert

     The Dorcas Gazelle is highly adapted to the desert. They can go their entire lives without drinking, as they can get all of the moisture they need from the plants in their diet, though they do drink when water is available. They are able to withstand high temperatures, but when it is very hot they are active mainly at dawn, dusk and during the night. In areas where they face human predation, they tend to be active only at night in order to minimise the risk of falling prey to hunters. These gazelles feed on leaves, flowers and pods of many species of Acacian trees, as well as the leaves, twigs and fruits of various bushes. They occasionally stand on their hind legs to graze on trees, and after rain they have been observed digging out bulbs from the ground.

     Dorcas Gazelles are able to run at speeds of up to 80 km per hour, and when threatened they tail-twitch and make bouncing leaps with the head held high (stotting) to announce that they have seen a predator.

The Shrinking Habitat

     The population of this gazelle has declined throughout its range.
     The natural predators of Dorcas Gazelles include the cheetah, leopard, and the lion, but due to hunters, there aren't very many large cats left to eat them.
     The main threat to this species is ever-expanding civilization. People's industrial and living areas shrink the gazelle's habitat, and by introducing new flocks of domestic sheep and goats which compete with the gazelle for vegetation.