The red-fronted gazelle is widely, yet sparingly spread across the middle of Africa from Senegal to northeastern Ethiopia. They prefer to dwell among arid grasslands, shrubby steppes, and wooded savannas. They face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and commercial development, farming, ranching; illegal hunting; trapping; and climate change, that causes severe droughts. The IUCN lists these gazelles as Vulnerable. Their population trend is also listed as decreasing.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Eudorcas rufifrons
Weight: Up to 65 lbs.
Length: Up to 43.3 inches
Height: Up to 27 inches
Lifespan: Up to 14.5 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) They were first described by British zoologist John Edward Gray in 1846.
2.) There are 5 recognized subspecies: eastern Chad, Nigerian, Kanuri, Nubian, and Senegal.
3.) Their horns can measure up to 15.75 inches long.
4.) These gazelles are able to adapt to extensive pasturelands and abandoned agricultural lands if there is at least some cover.
5.) Unlike other gazelles, they will feed along the southern edge of the Sahara during the rains, but need to migrate southward during the dry season to find sufficient water due to their lack of tolerance for droughts or waterless habitats.
But wait, there’s more on the red-fronted gazelle!
6.) There is typically only a single individual found every .62 square mile.
7.) That being said, groupings of up to 6 individuals have been reported.
Did you know…?
These gazelles can run at speeds of up to 60 mph and jump up to 10 feet!
8.) Trees and scrub brush make up their diet.
9.) African wild dogs, cheetahs, hyenas, leopards, and lions are their primary natural predators; while humans are the chief concern.
10.) Females undergo up to a 189 day gestation (pregnancy) that yields a single fawn.
But wait, there’s still more on the red-fronted gazelle!
11.) As is the case with all “hider” species, infants are cached away by their mothers and visited periodically for nursing throughout the day.
12.) It is estimated that there are up to 25,000 wild individuals remaining, to date.
13.) In an effort to expand their populations, a reintroduced population exists in the Guembeul Natural Reserve and Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary of Senegal.
Now a Short Red-Fronted Gazelle Video!
This video talks about gazelles in general.
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
Photo credit: animal-library.fandom
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