Where does the gerenuk live?
The gerenuk, or giraffe gazelle, is a long-necked, medium-sized antelope found mainly in the Somali region of East Africa: from north-western Somalia through Kenya to north-eastern Tanzania. Its Somali name literally means "the gazelle that suckles the giraffe". It is characterised by its long, slender neck and limbs, and its flat, wedge-like head.
What does the gerenuk eat?
It is primarily a browser: it feeds on the foliage of bushes and trees, shoots, herbs, flowers and fruits. It stands on its hind legs to reach vegetation over 2 m high. Acacia species are eaten whenever available. Its pointed mouth helps it extract leaves from thorny plants. It does not drink water regularly. It lives in small herds of two to six members, typically single-sex.
Is the gerenuk endangered?
Yes: the IUCN lists it as Near Threatened. Its major predators are African wild dogs, cheetahs, hyenas, lions and leopards. It stands 80 to 105 cm tall and weighs 18 to 52 kg. Only males have horns, lyre-shaped, 25 to 44 cm long.
