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Dama Gazelle
Nanger dama
The largest and rarest gazelle — white and rust-red — survives as scattered handfuls across the Sahel.
- Range
- ChadNigerMali
- Region
- Africa
- Habitat
- Sahelian grassland and sub-desert steppe
The story
Dama gazelles once flowed across the Sahel in their thousands; motorised hunting reduced them to a few tiny pockets in Chad and Niger. World herds in Texas ranches and zoos far outnumber wild animals, and reinforcement releases in Chad's Ouadi Rimé reserve are rebuilding a wild future.
What's killing them
- Hunting from vehicles
- Habitat degradation and overgrazing
- Regional instability
- Severely fragmented herds
Who's fighting for them
Sahara ConservationSahara Conservation
African ParksAfrican Parks Network
IUCN Red ListInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — Species Survival Commission
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Quick answers
How many Dama Gazelles are left in the world?
Approximately ~100–200 wild. The Dama Gazelle (Nanger dama) is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and their population trend is declining. Figures are estimates compiled from the IUCN Red List and conservation organisations.
Where does the Dama Gazelle live?
The Dama Gazelle is found in Chad, Niger, Mali (Africa). Their habitat: Sahelian grassland and sub-desert steppe.
Why is the Dama Gazelle endangered?
The main threats to the Dama Gazelle are: Hunting from vehicles; Habitat degradation and overgrazing; Regional instability; Severely fragmented herds.
Who is working to save the Dama Gazelle?
Organisations working on Dama Gazelle conservation include Sahara Conservation; African Parks Network; International Union for Conservation of Nature — Species Survival Commission.