The Antelope of africa

Gerenuk

Litocranius walleri

One of the most charachteristic antelope of East Africa with long legs and long neck. The gerenuk is also called the "giraffe antelope".

Distribution East of the Rift Valley from northern Tanzania through Kenya, Ethiopia into the horn of Africa
Social structure Males are fiercely territorial and females can be single or move in small family groups. Batchelor males may form small groups.
Range differentiation No differences across the range.
Habitat Found in arid regions as they are not dependant on drinking water.
Feeding Browsers with a preference for new leaf growth and flowers, mainly of the acacia family.
Breeding Birth coincides with the rainy season after a gestation period of about 7 months.
The long neck of the Gerenuk shows why it can be called the giraffe antelope

With its long neck and legs it is easy to see why the gerenuk is also known as the giraffe antelope.

The long neck of the Gerenuk shows why it can be called the giraffe antelope
Click to enlarge

With its long neck and legs it is easy to see why the gerenuk is also known as the giraffe antelope.

Gerenuks on their hind legs

One of the iconic images of the arid areas of east africa is that of gerenuk standing on their hinds legs and feeding.

Gerenuks on their hind legs
Click to enlarge

One of the iconic images of the arid areas of east africa is that of gerenuk standing on their hinds legs and feeding.

One of the charachteristic images of east Africa is the gerenuk standing on hind legs reaching to the treetops whilst feeding. They feed on new leaves and flowers, thereby gaining a great deal of moisture.

Of the arid regions

Gerenuk are found in the arid regions as they are not dependent on water, getting all their moisture requirements from the food they eat.

The thinner neck of the female Gerenuk

The female gerenuk has a thinner neck than the male and lacks horns.

The thinner neck of the female Gerenuk
Click to enlarge

The female gerenuk has a thinner neck than the male and lacks horns.

A Gerenuk at full stretch

The gerenuk is able to reach the new growth on trees allowing it to get all its moisture needs from its food.

A Gerenuk at full stretch
Click to enlarge

The gerenuk is able to reach the new growth on trees allowing it to get all its moisture needs from its food.

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