Addra Gazelle
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Antilopinae
Genus: Nanger
Species: Nanger dama (Pallas, 1766)
Common Names by Region
General / English: Addra Gazelle, Dama Gazelle
North Africa / Sahel: Mhorr Gazelle (regional usage)
French: Gazelle dama
Conservation / Zoological Use: Dama Gazelle
Description
General Appearance
The Addra gazelle is the largest and tallest gazelle species, with long legs adapted for endurance travel across open desert and semi-desert landscapes. Its coloration is striking: a predominantly white body with reddish-brown to chestnut coloration on the neck, shoulders, and upper back.
The species has a high-shouldered, elegant profile and a long, narrow head.
Size
Shoulder height: 90–120 cm (35–47 in)
Body length: 140–170 cm (55–67 in)
Weight: 35–75 kg (77–165 lb)
Males are typically larger and more heavily built than females.
Horns
- Both sexes possess horns
- Long, slender, and lyre-shaped, curving outward then inward
- Horn length may reach 35–40 cm (14–16 in)
Known Range
Historically widespread across North Africa and the Sahel, from Morocco and Western Sahara eastward into Sudan.
Current wild range:
- Extremely fragmented
- Small remnant populations in Niger and Chad
The species is now functionally absent from much of its former range.
Habitat
- Arid and semi-arid desert
- Sahelian grasslands
- Open plains with sparse vegetation
Prefers landscapes that allow long-distance visibility and movement rather than dense cover.
Behavior
Activity
- Primarily diurnal, with activity peaks in early morning and late afternoon
- Rest during extreme heat
Social Structure
- Small herds or loose groupings
- Group size fluctuates with resource availability
- Historically formed larger seasonal aggregations
Movement
- Highly mobile, adapted for long-distance travel in search of forage and water
- Relies on memory of seasonal vegetation patterns
Diet
- Browses grasses, herbs, leaves, and shoots
- Highly water-efficient; obtains much of its moisture from food
- Shifts diet seasonally based on plant availability
Reproduction
- Breeding can occur year-round, often timed to favorable conditions
- Gestation period approximately 6 months
- Usually a single calf per birth
- Calves are hidden for short periods after birth to reduce predation risk
Predators / Threats
Natural Predators (Historical)
- Large carnivores such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas
Primary Modern Threats
- Overhunting and poaching
- Habitat degradation from livestock grazing
- Political instability limiting conservation enforcement
- Fragmentation of remaining populations
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Addra gazelle is one of the most endangered large mammals in Africa.
Survival of the species now depends heavily on:
- Managed reserves
- Captive breeding programs
- Carefully monitored reintroduction efforts
Additional Notes
- Considered a flagship species for Sahelian conservation
- Exceptionally adapted to extreme environments
- Loss of the Addra gazelle represents not just species decline, but the erosion of entire desert ecosystems and migratory knowledge encoded over millennia
Maintenance / Management
- Requires large, connected landscapes to thrive
- Conservation success depends on cross-border cooperation
- Long-term viability requires restoring movement corridors, not isolated enclosures
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