The mountain gazelle, Gazella gazella, is a species of antelope native to the Middle East, known for its graceful and slender form. The mountain gazelle currently faces a precarious future, officially classified as an endangered species. Its declining numbers make understanding this species and the challenges it faces increasingly important.
Physical Characteristics and Adaptations
Mountain gazelles have a lean and agile build, characterized by long necks and legs, with particularly elongated hind limbs. Their coat typically ranges from tan to dark brown on the upper body, contrasting with a white underbelly and light brown limbs. A distinct off-white stripe with black lower margins marks their face, and a narrow, dark band often separates the darker upper coat from the white underside.
Both male and female mountain gazelles grow horns. Males have significantly larger, thicker horns with prominent rings, measuring between 220-294 mm. Female horns are generally thinner, smoother, shorter, and unringed, less than 70% the length of male horns. Males also generally outweigh females, with mature males ranging from 17 to 29.5 kg, while females typically weigh between 16 and 25 kg.
These gazelles are well-adapted to dry, arid conditions, with physiological adaptations for water conservation. They can survive for extended periods without direct water sources, obtaining fluids from succulent plants and dew drops. Their short, sleek coat helps reflect solar radiation during warmer months, while a longer, thicker, and rainproof coat develops in winter for protection.
Habitat and Geographic Distribution
Historically, the mountain gazelle was distributed across the Levant region. Today, its primary populations are found in Israel, a significant sanctuary for the species. Smaller, isolated groups also exist in the West Bank, parts of Jordan, and Turkey. Occasional sightings have been reported in the Gaza Strip.
Despite its name, the mountain gazelle inhabits diverse environments beyond mountains, including hills, light forests, coastal plains, and desert plateaus. They spend their days on elevated areas, such as hilltops, to avoid heat. Around dawn and dusk, these animals descend to forage in varied terrain, adapted to areas with moderate temperatures and precipitation.
Behavior and Diet
Mountain gazelles are diurnal creatures. Their activity often peaks in the early morning and around sunset, when they are typically found foraging. During the hottest parts of the day, they rest on breezy, elevated spots to escape the heat.
These gazelles exhibit social and territorial behaviors. Their social organization typically involves small herds of three to eight individuals. These groups can consist of maternity herds with females and their young, or bachelor herds composed of younger males. Older adult males often become solitary, establishing and defending their own territories. Males communicate territorial boundaries using dung middens and vocalizations, also serving for alarm and courtship.
As herbivores, mountain gazelles consume plant matter, adapting their diet based on what is available in their environment. Their food includes a range of grasses, herbs, and shrubs. They also feed on acacia foliage in some regions. They are both grazers and browsers, and can consume plants typically avoided by other herbivores.
Conservation Status and Threats
The mountain gazelle is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This designation reflects a significant decline in their global population, estimated at approximately 6,000 individuals in the wild as of 2024. The species is protected under Israeli law, where a population of about 5,000 gazelles has shown a slow recovery.
Human-induced pressures and natural factors contribute to the species’ vulnerability. Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats, driven by expanding agriculture and urban development. Roads, railways, and fences further isolate populations, preventing free movement and gene flow. These fragmented habitats also lead to increased road collisions, a direct cause of mortality for many gazelles.
Illegal poaching remains a threat despite protective laws, with an estimated 300–1300 gazelles poached annually. Predation by natural predators like golden jackals and wolves, and increasingly by feral dogs, also impacts population numbers, particularly affecting fawn survival. These interconnected threats collectively hinder the mountain gazelle’s recovery and contribute to its endangered status.