An animal commonly found on the savanna, the gazelle is a horseshoe and horned mammal that loves to graze. Although it is often necessary to avoid being eaten by lions, this special animal loves to eat!
So, what do gazelles eat? gazelles eat grass, leaves, plants of any kind, and shrubs or shrubs.
But what is it with gazelles that makes them want to eat all kinds of plant matter? And how much plant material do they consume on a daily basis? Now let’s look in more detail!
What does a gazelle eat?
Gazelles will eat any plant material they come across, including grasses, tree or shrub leaves, plant buds and more. These herbivores are notorious grazers and they often don’t stop eating until all the grass is gone!
This is not to say that gazelles do not choose high-quality plant material to eat. Actually, a study conducted by the journal Ecology suggests that many gazelles will choose high-quality grass so that they can get more energy from it.
A Complete List of 8 Foods that Gazelles Eat
Depending on the specific species of gazelle, they will eat the following:
- Grass
- To leaf through
- Shrubs or shrubs
- plant buds
- Various plant species
- Acacia Tree Pods
- twigs
- Fruit
An entire herd of gazelles can eat a lot of plant material in one day, especially when you take into account that some herds have hundreds of gazelles in them. That’s a lot of grass consumed!
While these herbivores graze on many plants, they can be selective about what will yield the most energy. Gazelles are often on the run as they are usually prey for others animals. They can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour!
Does a gazelle drink water?
Gazelles may not need to drink water to live. According to the Royal Society, many species of gazelles and desert antelope do not need water to survive. Of course, this is not entirely true – we all need water to live.
It is more accurate to say that gazelles get all the hydration and water they need from the plants they consume. This must be an evolution or an adaptation these animals have acquired after generations living in harsh desert climates with little water.
Some species of gazelle need to seek out water sources, but not all of them do. It all depends on the specific species, although many desert gazelles can go their entire lives without finding a water source to drink from.
Although gazelles will drink water if they come across a river or desert oasis, they don’t have to worry about this necessary substance – as long as they eat plants consistently!
How much does a gazelle eat?
A gazelle is known to eat up to 3-6 pounds of grass or plant material per day.
Although this depends on the age and sex of the gazelle, a study conducted by Ecography states that most gazelles also eat about 18% protein each day. This is quite a high percentage when you consider that a gazelle only chews on grass!
However, not many studies have been conducted to get a more accurate idea of how much a gazelle can eat in a single day. They graze and eat frequently, so the number can actually be much higher than 3-6 pounds, especially if a gazelle is pregnant.
Gazelles are impressive when it comes to getting food. For example, they can stand on their hind legs just like humans to reach tree leaves and taller shrubs. This kind of effort could mean that gazelles are indeed eating more than we ever thought possible!
Do gazelles have predators?
Gazelles have many predators, including hyenas, lions, cheetahs, and crocodiles. Given their small size and large herds, these animals are often found as prey.
Some common gazelle predators also include:
While living in a herd can be a safe way of life, it also opens up the opportunity for other animals to target gazelles, especially those that are weak or sick. Young gazelles are often victims of: birds of prey or other small carnivores.
Gazelles are also hunted by humans for food. While some species of gazelle are too endangered to be hunted, more common gazelle species are eaten by mankind.
While gazelles are known for their speed and ability to escape predators, this is often not enough to avoid everyone. This is especially true if a gazelle’s predator is a human!
What do different types of Gazelle eat?
There are about 20 different species of gazelles around the world, and all of them are herbivores. This means that, despite the differences in gazelle species, they all prefer to eat plants and other plant matter.
However, some types of gazelles are more selective than others. For example, according to a study conducted by the Journal of Mammalogythey found that Grant’s gazelles graze more than Thomson’s gazelles.
Grant’s gazelles also survive on much less water than Thomson’s gazelles, as they get all of their moisture from plants, while Thomson’s gazelles must seek water in order to live. Grant’s gazelles sound like they are more selective in general!
According to the Journal of Animal Ecology, gazelles eat in the same way as wildebeest. Since the two animals live in the same general area, wildebeest can be considered competition for a gazelle’s food source.
Whatever happens, these animals love new and freshly sprouted grass. Gazelles often graze in areas recently damaged
b
y fires. This is because new grass often grows first in areas with wildfires, and these green sprouts are undoubtedly irresistible to gazelles of all kinds.