Thompson’s Gazelle

(Gazella thompsoni) East Africa – Tanzania, Kenya, and the Southern Sudan.  Named after the Scottish geologist and explorer Joseph Thompson.  Sometimes referred to as a “tommie”.

ID
A small gazelle that stand between 21 inches (females) to 26 inches (males) at the shoulder.  Weights range from 30 lbs in females to 60 lbs in males.  Tan coat with a wide black side stripe that slants upward from front to back.  Above this stripe is a pale area with white underparts below.  Fawns are born with less conspicuous markings.  Thompson’s faces have white circleing the eye and extending to the mouth, typically outlined by black streaks.  Often mistaken for Grant’s gazelle because of similar coloration, Thompson’s gazelle have a white rump patch that extends to the short, black tail, but no further.  Grant’s rump patch always extends above the tail.  Males sport heavily ringed, slightly S-shaped horns that run almost parallel.  Female horns are often irregular in shape and length or lacking all togther.  Male weights average 5o lbs (range: 35 to 65) while females average around 10 lbs less (range: 25 to 52).

Behavior
Live in a number of social groups throughout the year.  During rutting period, dominant males are very territorial.  As groups of females pass through these territories (usually 2.5 to 12.5 acres and marked by dung piles) males attempt to herd females and fight other males, whose territories may overlap.  As a result, territory boundaries can change daily.  Usually tolerate other species occupying their boundaries to the point of appearing to enjoy the social interaction.  Display and thwart predation by performing stiff-legged, leaping bounds called “stotting” or “pronking”.  Females will defend their young aggressively if threatened.  Tommies rank #5 on the fastest land animals on earth list, reaching top speeds of 50 mph.  Continually wag spindly tail.  Avoid tall grass, dense vegetation, and steep slopes.

Food Habits
Forage on low vegetation and grass.  Prefer fresh, short grasses.  Derive most of their daily water from the plant matter consume.

Breeding
Males mature at 1.5 yrs and females at 1 yr.  See peaks in breeding every 6 months.  Females come into estrous for 12 to 24 hrs and cycle every 2 to 3 weeks until bred.  Female Thompson’s gazelle give birth to a single fawn after a 5 to 6 month gestation period. They are unusual among ungulates in that they can give birth twice yearly, rather than just once.

Life span
In the wild, can live 10 to 15 years.

Keeping Thompson’s Gazelle
Need short grasses that can be maintained by the grazing of other animals, mowing or prescribed burns.  Parasite loads are typically high and young are susceptible to predation, especially on muddy ground and during very dark nights.  Seven ft fence is usually adequate when not excited or pushed.  May hybridize with other small gazelle and can cross with blackbuck antelope.

Thompson’s Gazelle Hunting
The average cost of a trophy Thompson’s gazelle is ~ $5000.