Grant's Gazelle
Nanger granti
A large pale gazelle of the East African plains with long lyre-shaped horns.
| Scientific name | Nanger granti |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Swala Granti |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Bovidae |
| Size | Shoulder height about 75-95 cm, weight about 45-80 kg; males distinctly larger than females |
How to identify
Larger than Thomson's gazelle; the white rump patch extends upward above the tail onto the lower back; horns long, curved and heavily ringed; lacks the bold black side stripe
Habitat
Open savanna, short-grass plains and semi-arid bushland
Diet
Feeds on grasses, herbs and shrub foliage; can go long periods without drinking water
When it is active
Diurnal, most active in the early morning and late afternoon
Where it lives
East Africa, including the grasslands of Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and Ethiopia
How to spot it
Look on open short-grass plains, often mixed with Thomson's gazelles and zebras; note the larger size and extended white rump patch
Photography tips
Use soft morning light for side profiles that highlight the long lyre-shaped horns; shoot from a low angle to emphasise its stance on the plains
Threats
Habitat loss, competition with livestock for grazing, and poaching
Similar species
Thomson's gazelle (smaller, with a bold black side stripe and a rump patch that does not extend above the tail)
