Hunting Thompson's gazelle in Africa

Thomson’s gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) is the most common type of gazelle found in eastern Africa and a popular trophy when on an Africa plains game hunting safari. They are native to Kenya and Tanzania and are found in savanna, farmland and grassland habitats, with a favorite habitat being the Serengeti region of Kenya and Tanzania. Their conservation status with the IUCN is listed as “near threatened.” 

Thomson’s gazelles are named after researcher Joseph Thomson and are sometimes referred to as “tommies.” They are sociable animals and live in herds that may comprise as few as ten to as many as a couple of hundred or even thousand animals during the rainy season. An advantage of staying in larger herds is that it allows more eyes to be on the lookout for danger, such as cheetahs who love to feed on gazelle.

Breeding happens throughout the year with females giving birth up to twice a year. After a six-month gestation period, the female will give birth to one or two fawns. The births peak after the rainy season but births do happen throughout the year. The fawns are hidden to start with and are raised in a secluded area by the mother who suckles them. By age three to four months, they start grazing with their mother and are independent member of the herd by six months.

Thomson’s gazelles are herbivores and typically consume short grasses which make up 90% of their diet. They supplement this with twigs, tree leaves and seeds, especially during the dry season.

Being relatively small and slender, the Thomson’s gazelle has several predators that prey on it, including leopards, lions, and hyenas. When threatened by predators, it starts “pronking” or “stotting” where it energetically bounces up and down when fleeing to warn others of the danger or threat.

It is an extremely fast gazelle, reaching up to 50-55 miles per hour, which allows it to outrun many of their predators. It is the fourth fastest land animal behind the cheetah, pronghorn and springbok.