Thomson's gazelle; Fouth Fastest Animal on Earth

The Thomson gazelle is exceptionally alert to sounds and movements, and its fine senses of hearing, sight and smell balance its vulnerability on the open plains.

Scientific Name: Eudorcas thomsonii Type: Mammel Diet: Herbivore Group Name: Herd

Speed:

Habitat

• Thomson's gazelles live in Africa's savannas and grassland habitats, particularly the Serengeti region ofKenyaand Tanzania.
• They live in open plains and grasslands.
• It does, however, move into dense woodland during migration.

Food and Life

• Gazelles are mixed feeders.
• In the wet seasons, gazelles eat primarily lush green grasses.
• Although grasses make up about 90% of the tommie's diet in dry season, it also eats seeds ,bushes, forbs, and clovers and browses on shrubs.
• In the wild, Thomson's gazelles can live up to 10–15 years.

Measurements

• Thomson's gazelles are 50 to 70 cm (20 to 28 in) tall.
• Their weight is 15 to 25 kg (33 to 55 lb) (females), 20 to 30 kg (44 to 66 lb) (males).
• They can run at the speed of km/hour.

Breeding and Young Ones

• During the wet season,they spread out more and more and establish breeding territories.
• Younger males usually spend their time in bachelor groups and are prevented from entering the territories.

• As the female groups pass though and forage, the territorial males may try to herd and are usually successful in preventing single females from leaving but not whole groups.
• Their gestation period is 5-6 months.
• They can give birth to young ones twice a year.
• First six hours of the fawn’s life, it moves and rests with mother but eventually turns away from its mother and lies down and hides in the grass.
• The mother returns to fawn daily for an hour and nurse it.

Population

• Their population is about 550.00.
• There has been a population decline of 60% from 1978–2005.

Life Threats And Preedators

• Tourist impacts, habitat modification, fire management, and road development are major threats to them.
• Their major predators are cheetahs, which are able to attain higher speeds, but gazelles can outlast them in long chases and are able to make turns more speedily.
• They are also preyed on by lions,leopards, hyenas, baboons, and crocodiles.
• They bound leap, known as stotting or pronking, used to startle predators and display strength.

http://hanayome-solty.blogspot.com