Dama Gazelle

Nanger dama

Easy

The **Dama Gazelle** (*Nanger dama*) is a mid-sized African ungulate featured in the Arid Animal Pack DLC for *Planet Zoo*.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

**Population In Wild:** 100-200

The dama gazelle (or Nanger dama) is a species of ungulate living in the Sahara desert and the Sahel. It has a short white coat on its belly, legs, hindquarters, and face, and red-brown fur on its back, shoulders, and neck. On its head, the dama gazelle has large protuberant ears and a black, curled horn. These horns are present on both males and females, however those of females are much shorter. Horn length in males ranges from 10in to 14in, with female horns around half that size on average. Dama gazelles measure 37in to 41in tall at the shoulder and 55in to 66in in body length, with females being slightly smaller. Male gazelles weigh 77lb to 165lb, while females are much lighter at 77lb to 88lb.

Dama gazelles are Critically Endangered, with one subspecies already becoming extinct in the wild. Like most desert-dwelling animals, it is adapted to need very little water to survive, however it does require more water than most desert species. It takes in water mainly through food and, due to this, any fluctuations in expected precipitation and climate can have detrimental effects on the dama gazelle. In addition to the consequences of climate change, its natural habitat has also been degraded and fragmented by human action, interrupting its migration routes and further complicating its access to water. Dama gazelles are also commonly hunted and poached. There are captive breeding programs in place with a focus on reintroducing the species into their native range, as well as several nature reserves where they are protected.

### Social

Dama gazelles live in mixed herds, led by a dominant male. During the breeding season, males attempt to guard females from other males and bring them into their herd.

### Reproduction

The dama gazelle is Critically Endangered in the wild, with herds often being very small or having been reintroduced from captive breeding programs. Therefore, it is difficult to witness natural reproductive behavior. The following information is based on captive and reintroduced gazelle observations.

During the mating season, males begin acting aggressively towards other rival males, and attempt to herd females away from them. They engage in dominance displays involving prancing, kicking, and snorting, or ramming bushes to draw attention to their horns. Males monitor females in their herd for signs of estrus by smelling their urine. If a female is receptive, the male initiates mating.

Following a pregnancy of 5.5 to 6 months, the female gives birth to one calf, although twins may occasionally occur. Calves are weaned at an age of 3 to 4 months.

Male dama gazelles reach sexual maturity at 1 year old. However, their chance to successfully reproduce increases with age, as their horns develop and they move up the dominance hierarchy in social groups. Female dama gazelles become sexually mature at 1.5 years old.

## Animal Care

 FEEDING STATIONS
 FOOD ENRICHMENT
Small Barrel Feeder · Grazing Ball Feeder · Hanging Grazer Feeder · Scarecrow Feeder
Grab Ball · Herb Scent Marker · Rubbing Pillar · Scots Pine/Tamarind Scratching Tree

## Trivia

### Zoopedia Trivia

* In Chad, the dama gazelle is a symbol of beauty and elegance.
* The dama gazelle makes a 'honking' sound when alarmed.
* Much of the conservation information for the dama gazelle has been provided by desert nomads and pastoralists.
* The dama gazelle is the rarest gazelle in the world, with less than 400 remaining in the wild.
* The dama gazelle has been going through small scale reintroduction schemes since 2015, which are believed to be its best chance to avoid extinction.

### Other Trivia

* The exact subspecies of Dama Gazelle represented in game is the *Nanger dama ruficollis,* also known as the Addra Gazelle.

## References

1. ↑ https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/planet-zoo-arid-animal-pack-releasing-20-june.617495/page-23#post-10159857