This species, also known as the addra gazelle, is the largest and rarest gazelle in the world. Fewer than 200 mature individuals are believed to remain within their native range, and the populations are highly fragmented.

The critically endangered dama gazelle faces multiple threats, including overhunting, habitat loss due to farming and agricultural practices, and competition for resources and space with domestic livestock.

Scientific Name: Nanger dama

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

Size: Nearly 4 ft. tall at the shoulder; Length ranges from 4.5 to 5.5 ft.

Weight: 88 to165 lbs.

Median Life Expectancy: Males 5.9years; Females 8.2 years

Dama gazelle in the Savanna
Nutrition

Dama gazelles graze on shrubs, herbs, and coarse desert grasses. They often stand on their hind legs to eat from acacia trees and other plants as high as six feet off the ground. Since they live in drier areas, they mainly get their water from the plants they eat.

At the Zoo, these gazelles are fed a special herbivore pellet, along with alfalfa hay and different types of leaves and branches, known as browse. 


Current Range and Historic Range

Historically, these gazelles were once widespread across northern Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to the Nile River. However, their range has been drastically reduced to fragmented populations found in desert regions in parts of Chad, Mali, and Niger. 


Habitat

Dama gazelles live in dry areas without much vegetation. They move seasonally from scrub land during the dry season to desert during the wet season.


Predators and Threats

Damas have many predators, including lions, jackals, hyenas, and cheetahs.

A key threat to the species is poaching and overhunting, driven by the high demand for their horns and meat. The already small populations are facing losing habitat due to increased grazing by domesticated livestock, human development, and wars in their current ranges.  


Reproduction

During the breeding season, male dama gazelles create and defend their territories fiercely. They often mark these areas with their urine or feces. To show off their strength and status, they use their horns to tear up grass. Males also gather females around them to keep them close, while chasing away other males that compete for the females.

In the wild, the mating season happens between August and October, but in human care, it can happen all year long. After about six months of pregnancy, a female gives birth to one baby gazelle, though twins can happen but are very rare. The young gazelles are weaned, or start eating solid food instead of milk, by the time they are five months old. 


Behaviors

Dama gazelles are social animals that usually live in groups or herds of five to ten. They move around with the seasons, going into the desert when it rains and back to bushland when it is dry. In the desert, they might join larger groups. Dama gazelles are diurnal, meaning they are more active during the day.


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