The Arabian gazelle is a delicate antelope with a pale sandy coat that blends beautifully with its arid surroundings. Its slender limbs, graceful neck, and slightly curved horns give it a refined, elegant appearance. Both males and females have horns, though males tend to have stronger ones. The sand gazelle’s coat, a light tan with subtle shading, helps it stay camouflaged in desert dunes, gravel plains, and dry wadis.
Arabian Gazelle
Zone
Arabian
Scientific name
Gazella arabica
IUCN Red List status
Vulnerable (VU)
Natural habitat
Deserts, semi-deserts, hills, mountains and coastal plains with island inhabitants living in areas of broken coral ravines and flat gravel.
Dietary Requirements
Herbivores: They predominantly feed on leaves, flowers, and fruits of acacia trees and other shrubs and trees. They're selective browsers who prefer woody plants over grasses. Island dwellers emerge at night to feed mainly on Cyperus sedges, obtaining water primarily from dew.
Threats
Ecosystem degradation, illegal hunting for meat, trapping for pets and private collections, overgrazing due to agriculture and ranching.
Conservation
Conservation efforts focus on protected areas across the Gulf desert regions, such as the Uruq Bani Maarid in Saudi Arabia, Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, and Al Saleel Natural Park in Oman. These programs reintroduce Arabian gazelles into their natural habitats and protect them within large monitored reserves.
Did you know?Gazelle’ is derived from Arabic: غزال ġazāl, Maghrebi pronunciation ġazēl.
About Al Ain Zoo
About Al Ain Zoo
A Pioneering Vision
Established in 1968 by the UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Al Ain Zoo has been in the forefront of preserving the region’s wildlife and delicate ecosystem, while caring for hundreds of endangered animals.
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