Named after Joseph Thomson—a 19th-century geologist and explorer—Thomson’s gazelles are small- to medium-sized antelopes native to East Africa. Colloquially known as ‘tommies’, they are predominantly found in the savannahs and grasslands of countries like Kenya and Tanzania. They thrive in wide-open spaces and plains, and they live together in herds.
These gazelles are relatively small and slender in build, particularly when compared to other antelope subspecies. Thomson’s gazelles have a tan to reddish-brown coat with a white belly and distinct black stripes on their sides and flanks. Adults typically stand about 55 to 82 centimeters tall at the shoulder and weigh 15 to 35 kilograms.
Due to their relatively small size, they are a preferred prey species for several large predators, including cheetahs, lions, leopards, and wild dogs. However, Thomson’s gazelles have developed great agility and speed to help them escape predators. In fact, they can reach speeds of up to 65 kilometers per hour when chased.
Thomson’s gazelles are herbivores that eat a variety of grasses, shoots, and leaves. They are highly selective in their diet and have adapted to graze on the most nutritious grasses available in their habitat. They are also known for their social nature. They form herds consisting of both males and females that can range from a few to several hundred individuals.
When it comes to mating, males are territorial and engage in courtship displays to attract mates. Thomson’s gazelles give birth to a single calf after a gestation period of around six months. Calves are born with a spotted coat and stay hidden in grass or bushes to avoid predation during their early days. They are weaned at about two to three months and reach sexual maturity at around one to two years old.
Thomson’s gazelles play a crucial role in maintaining the health of their ecosystems. By eating a wide range of vegetation, they help disperse seeds through their droppings, enabling more plants to grow and helping to sustain other herbivores that share their habitats. They also provide sustenance for larger predators, keeping the food web stable.
Protecting Thomson’s gazelles is essential not just for the survival of the species, but also for the other animals who share their ecosystems. Though they are not currently endangered, conservationists are hard at work to ensure their population numbers don’t decline.
