The Gerenuk, also known as Waller’s gazelle, is a medium-sized antelope native to East Africa. Its most recognizable feature is its disproportionately long, slender neck, which gives it its name; “gerenuk” is derived from the Somali language meaning “giraffe-necked.” This species, the sole member of the genus Litocranius, is a specialized browser.
Distinctive Physical Traits
The gerenuk is characterized by its exceptionally slender build, featuring a lanky body, long, thin legs, and the defining elongated neck. Males stand taller than females, reaching nearly 89 to 105 centimeters at the shoulder, with a total length typically between 140 and 160 centimeters. It possesses a small, wedge-like head, large, round eyes, and powerful ears that appear large in proportion to its face.
Its coat displays a distinct two-tone coloration, with a reddish-brown dorsal area, often called a “saddle,” fading to lighter fawn or buff on the flanks. The underside, inner legs, chin, and a ring around the eyes and mouth are marked by white or cream-colored fur. Only the males possess horns, which are stout, heavily ringed, and curve backward in a distinctive lyre- or S-shape. These horns measure between 25 and 44 centimeters in length.
Habitat and Geographic Range
The gerenuk is found across the arid and semi-arid regions of the Horn of Africa and East Africa. Its geographic range extends from southern Djibouti and Somalia, through Ethiopia and most of Kenya, and into the northeastern parts of Tanzania. The species inhabits dry, brushy regions, favoring thornbush, thickets, and semi-arid deserts below 1,600 meters in elevation.
This antelope is well-adapted to environments where water is scarce and avoids both dense woodlands and very open, grass-dominated habitats. The presence of adequate succulent plants and thorny shrubs, such as acacias, is a primary factor in its distribution.
Unique Foraging Behavior and Social Structure
The gerenuk’s most unique behavior is bipedal standing for feeding, a specialized adaptation for browsing. It stands upright on its hind legs, often bracing itself against a tree or shrub, and stretches its long neck to reach foliage inaccessible to most other antelopes. This allows the gerenuk to browse on leaves, shoots, buds, and fruits as high as two meters off the ground.
The animal is a selective browser, primarily consuming the tender, nutrient-rich leaves and shoots of prickly bushes and trees. This diet includes a high moisture content from the plants it eats, allowing the gerenuk to be largely independent of surface water.
The social structure of the gerenuk is relatively solitary compared to other grazing antelopes. Males are typically territorial and live alone, marking their home ranges with secretions from preorbital glands located near their eyes. Females and their young may form small, loose, temporary groups of around two to six individuals. Young males often form bachelor herds until they establish their own territories.
Conservation Status and Threats
The gerenuk is currently classified as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. This designation reflects a population decline estimated to be at least 25% over the last three generations. The total population is estimated to be around 95,000 individuals, but only about 10% occurs within protected areas.
The primary threats are habitat loss and fragmentation driven by agricultural expansion and increasing human settlements. Competition for forage with domestic livestock and the cutting of trees further degrade the essential bushy vegetation the gerenuk relies upon. Illegal hunting and poaching also contribute to the population decline. Conservation efforts include population monitoring and the protection of large sections of their range within national parks and game reserves.