Colloquially known as the ‘Tommie’ this short grassland specialist, is often confused with the much larger (38-80kgs) Grants Gazelle, however it is more easily identified by its thicker black tail, shorter horns and more obvious black stripe on the flank.
This Gazelle can be highly territorial and actively defends the territory, however they also ‘migrate’ with the Wildebeest, Zebras and Topi as well as trek long distances back and forth to water; in this state they are more sociably flexible and maintain ‘friend’ groups or clans, especially amongst females.
Often they may be seen to cock their heads against a tall grass blade. This is marking territory using the Preorbital gland, situated in front of the eye which deposits a black secretion that is used by other tummies to tell who has been there or who owns the territory.
Despite being known as favourite cheetah prey, they are one of the fastest gazelles over shorter distances and more than a match for an adult cheetah, if they are given more than 70-100 flight distances. The young tommies hidden amongst solanum and longer tufts of grass are what Cheetah favour and actively hunt out in the months of august-October.
Gestation is typically Gazelle length at 6mths and
Longevity at about 10-12 yrs.
