Cuvier's Gazelle

Facts

IUCN ENDANGERED (EN)

Facts about this animal

The Cuvier's Gazelle is a fairly robust gazelle, larger than the Dorcas and Slender-horned Gazelles. It weighs up to 35 kg and has a shoulder height of about 70 cm. The spiralled horns are present in both sexes, and may reach 35 cm in length. The dark brown back, head and legs is in contrast with the white belly and rump patch.

The Cuvier's Gazelle was quite widespread in North Africa early this century, but now extinct over most of their former range, and extremely rare in the few isolated and scattered populations that survive.

Did you know?
that, already in 1932, Cuvier's gazelles were considered one of the rarest gazelles? They declined due to hunting for skins, meat and as a trophy, especially after motorized hunting with modern firearms became feasible. Loss of habitat due to continuous expansion of pastureland for livestock and deforestation for agriculture or charcoal appears to be the main threat now.

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	ARTIODACTYLA
Suborder	RUMINANTIA
Family	BOVIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Gazella cuvieri
Name (English)	Cuvier's Gazelle
Name (French)	Gazelle de Cuvier
Name (German)	Cuviergazelle
Name (Spanish)	Gacela de Cuvier
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Appendix I Sahelo-Saharan Antelope Action Plan

Photo Copyright by
Colin Burnett

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia
Habitat	Rocky and sandy areas, open oak and pine forests
Wild population	Approx.: 1,750 – 2,950 (Red List IUCN)
Zoo population	95 reported to ISIS

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 73 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Alex Sliwa

Why do zoos keep this animal

Cuvier's gazelle is very rare in the wild. Its distribution range as well as its population size has decreased a lot for the last eighty years. Only small scattered groups remain at present in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Ex-situ breeding programmes developed by zoos have raised the world captive population of this species over 250 individuals. From this captive population reintroduction projects can be undertaken, which are the only hope for the survival of this species in its original distribution range in Northern Africa.

How this animal should be kept

Cuvier's gazelles should be kept in social groups of one adult male and several females with their offspring. For up to five adult animals an outdoor enclosure of at least 500 m² is required, which should be enlarged by 50 m² for each additional adult. The enclosure should be well structured, frequently used areas, e.g. at the entrance to the stables, should be paved. The soil should be well drained, sand or marly limestone are suitable substrates if the enclosure is not large enough to sustain a grass cover. Landscaping may involve tree roots, large natural stones or trees. Indoors 4 m² should be provided. The indoor stabling is dry and free of drafts, and it is heated to 14-16 degrees Celsius during winter.

In the wild, Cuvier's gazelles are browsers and grazers, feeding predominatly on herbs and shrubs in summer and desert grasses in winter. The diet should therefore be high-proteine, comprising lucerne hay ad lib., fresh or dried browse, fresh lucerne/grass mixture (only summer), pellets especially for browsers etc.