3 minute read
By Chris and Mathilde Stuart
from A 2021
by nustobaydo
Thomson’s gazelle
By Chris and Mathilde Stuart
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BasedonChrisandMathildeStuart’sbook,"Game Animals of the World," published by African Hunting Gazette, here’s everything hunters need to know about the Thomson’s gazelle
English: Thompson’s gazelle Latin: Eudorcas thomsoni German: Thomson-Gazelle French: Gazelle de Thomson Spanish: Gacela de Thomson
MEASUREMENTS
Total length: 1 – 1.38 m (3.3‘– 4.5‘) Tail: 20 – 28 cm (7.9” – 11”) Shoulder Height: 55 – 65 cm (1.8‘– 2.1‘) Weight: 15 – 25 kg (33 – 55 lb) (rarely more than 28 kg (62 lb))
DESCRIPTION
A small gazelle that is one of the most abundant in Africa and commonly called “Tommy” within its range. Upperparts are pale yellowish-fawn to reddish-fawn, with a distinct, broad black lateral stripe clearly separating the clean white underparts. There is a clear broad white ring around the eye, and the short, constantly flicking tail is covered with black hair. The ram carries the long, close-growing, horns that are strongly ringed. They widen towards the tip and usually curve slightly inward. The ewe carries short, slender and often deformed horns. The race known as the mongalla (E. t. albonotata) has the white of the eye ring extending to the forehead, a white forehead patch and horns that turn more sharply inwards. Otherwise easily recognisable as Thomson’s, the mongalla was recently recognized as a full species.
DISTRIBUTION
Thomson’s straddles the Tanzanian/Kenyan border, mainly within the Serengeti/Mara ecosystem, with the mongalla race centered on the Boma Plateau of South Sudan and adjoining Ethiopia. Huntable in Tanzania and Ethiopia.
CONSERVATION STANDING
Despite its very limited distribution, this is one of Africa’s most abundant gazelles, with about one million animals of which about one-third make up the mongalla race. Numbers have increased dramatically in Serengeti in parallel with the increase in wildebeest numbers that increase in areas of short grass. The mongalla population in Sudan is in part largely nonmigratory, but those in the Jonglei Canal area and on the Boma Plateau undergo seasonal migrations. These movements are on to the floodplains in the dry season, retreating to higher-lying ground as river waters rise during the rains. The status of the mongalla population in the adjacent Omo National Park of Ethiopia is currently not known, but in the late 1990s it was said to be absent there. Numbers have decreased in Kenya outside the Mara ecosystem, as well as in Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. Ironically, this latter decline resulted from removal of Maasai cattle, and thus a reduction in short grass, which Thomson’s requires. Between 1978 and 2005 the Thomson's gazelle population crashed by an estimated 60% over much of its range, even within conservation areas. Various reasons have been given for this decline, some man-made, others natural.
HABITATS
Open grassland savanna.
BEHAVIOR
In herds of up to 60 animals accompanied by a single adult ram and led by an old ewe. However these groups are unstable and there is much migration to and fro. Rams are territorial during the peak rut, but at other times large numbers, into the thousands, feed and move together. In the rut ram territories vary from 100 – 300 m (110 - 330 yards) in radius and he attempts to mate with any receptive ewe that comes within his boundary. Rams will fight viciously to defend their territories. When alarmed both sexes jump in the air with stiff-legged gait (also called stotting) and flair the white rump hairs.
BREEDING
Mating season: Most births are in January/ February after rains, with females having second young in July Gestation: 188 days Number of young: 1 Birth weight: 2.2 – 3 kg (4.9 – 6.6 lb) Sexual maturity: 12 months. Females conceive from 152 – 720 days of age.
FOOD
Grazers that require regular access to water.
RIFLES AND AMMUNITION
Suggested Caliber: .224 - .257.
Bullet: Expanding bullet.
Sights: Medium-range variable scope.
Hunting Conditions: Expect medium-range shots in open country.
Shot placement
Thomson’s Gazelle
Thomson’s gazelle E. t. thomsonii Mongalla gazelle E.t. albonotata
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