Game Hunting Grant’s gazelle in Africa

Grant’s gazelle (Nanger granti) is a large species of antelope native to numerous Africa countries including Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. This African plains game antelope was named after a 19th-century British explorer namely, James Grant. When game hunting in Africa, the Grant’s gazelles are sometimes confused with Thomson’s gazelles but are easily distinguishable as the Grant’s gazelles are larger and the white patch found on its rump extends above the tail area.

Even though they are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as “least concern” their numbers are decreasing. There are estimated to be 140,000–350,000 Grant’s antelopes but their numbers are decreasing due to habitat destruction, snare hunting and poaching. There are several parks such as the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, and Kenya’s Lake Turkana National Park whose work is paramount in protecting this antelope species.

Grant’s gazelles tend to live in mid-sized herds, separated into females with juveniles and bachelor groups. They breed throughout the year, with a gestation period of 198 days after which one to two offspring are born. The female hides the offspring in the plains grass, returning three to four times daily to feed and clean them. They remain hidden for roughly two weeks, start eating solid food at about one month and are weaned at six months.

These antelopes are mixed feeders that both browse and graze. They tend to vary their diet according to the season. These antelopes prefer living in short, grassy plains where they can graze but do also browse in sparser, shrubland areas. They tend to avoid the thicker, higher grassy areas as these make perfect hiding spots for predators, such as cheetahs and African wild dogs. Grant’s gazelles gather most of their moisture through the diet and don’t often have to drink water, which allows them to stay on the plains long after the rains end. In the drier season, they move to deeper, dense bush and wait for the rains to return.

Game hunting safaris and humans hunt Grant’s gazelle as a trophy, for their meat and hides. They have many other predators including lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs, hyenas as well as Nile crocodiles, and even hippos, who can react very aggressively when others enter their territory.

Grant’s gazelles are extremely fleet-footed, reaching speeds of 50 miles per hour that enable them to outrun predators. Although not often, they will use their horns to defend themselves or their young.