May 2024:
The landscape was a vast sea of golden sand, dotted with sparse bushes and the occasional dune. As I walked through the desert, I saw two horns playfully dancing on the other side of a dune. A snort told me that the gazelle had caught my scent. I quickly took a few photos before it moved away with a few elegant jumps. Even though gazelles are common in Al Qudra, it's always a treat to see them moving gracefully through the desert. The gazelles are not merely inhabitants of the desert; they are deeply ingrained in the cultural tapestry of the UAE. The very name Abu Dhabi, which translates to "father of Gazelle," speaks volumes about the significance of these animals in the region's heritage. Legend has it that Bedouins from the Bani Yas tribe, living around the oasis of Liwa in the second half of the 18th century, led a hunting expedition that tracked a gazelle to a brackish spring on the island. Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa instructed the creation of a settlement around the spring, which came to bear the name Abu Dhabi, "father of the Gazelle." His son and successor, Sheikh Shakhbut, moved to Abu Dhabi in 1795 (1). Sheikh Shakhbut's great-great-grandson, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is the founder of the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE is home to two distinct species of gazelles: the Arabian (or Mountain) Gazelle and the Sand Gazelle, both species are classified as vulnerable. The Arabian Gazelle, scientifically known as Gazella arabica, has a light tan to pale brown coat with striking white underparts and prominent white stripes along its flanks. Their faces are adorned with distinctive dark markings, including patches around the eyes and a stripe running from the eye to the nose. On the other hand, the Sand Gazelle, scientifically termed Gazella marica, sports a light, sandy-colored coat that seamlessly blends with its desert habitat. Similar to their Arabian counterparts, they have white underparts and distinct dark markings around their eyes.
Arabian Gazelle
Arabian Gazelle
Sand Gazelle
Sand Gazelle
Males (in the back) typically flaunt larger and more robust horns than females.
Males typically flaunt larger and more robust horns that curve backward and outward, serving both as weapons and displays of dominance.
In contrast, females possess shorter and thinner horns. Both species tend to live in small groups of a few individuals. A 2023 study (2) at the DDCR showed that over 90% of the individuals were found in pairs or small groups, with occasional larger groups of more than 10 individuals for both species, the largest group was 15 individuals strong.
In Al Qudra I have come across very large group of gazelles of sometimes close to 50 individuals. It is also not uncommon to stumble upon mixed group of Sand and Arabian Gazelles.
Arabian gazelle young
Arabian Gazelle baby
Sand Gazelle baby
Twins only occur among Sand Gazelles
Arabian Gazelles typically give birth to a single calf, while the Sand Gazelles often give birth to twins. Remarkably, mothers leave their offspring hidden in secluded spots while they forage for food during the day. The absence of scent and the camouflage of their coat help protect the young in the desert environment.
