What Do Gazelles Eat? 8 Staples of Their Diet

Written by August Croft
Published: December 11, 2021
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An animal commonly found roaming the savannah, the gazelle is a hooved and horned mammal that loves to graze. While it often has to avoid getting eaten by lions, this particular animal loves to eat!

So, what do gazelles eat? Gazelles eat grass, leaves, plants of any kind, and bushes or shrubs.  

But what is it about gazelles that makes them want to eat all kinds of plant matter? And how much plant matter do they consume on a daily basis? Let’s take a look in more detail now!

What Do Gazelles Eat?
Gazelles eat grass, leaves, plants of any kind, and bushes or shrubs.  

©Agami Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com

What Does a Gazelle Eat?

Gazelles eat any and all plant matter they come across, including grasses, leaves on trees or shrubs, plant buds, and more. These herbivores are notorious grazers, and they often won’t stop eating until all of the grass is gone!

This isn’t to say that gazelles don’t choose high quality plant matter to eat. In fact, a study done by the Ecology journal suggests that many gazelles will choose high-quality grass so that they can get a higher energy gain from it.

A Complete List of 8 Foods Gazelles Eat

Depending on the specific species of gazelle, they will eat the following:

  • Grass
  • Leaves
  • Bushes or shrubs
  • Plant buds
  • Various plant species
  • Acacia tree pods
  • Twigs
  • Fruits
What Do Gazelles Eat?

Gazelles eat any and all plant matter they come across, including grasses, leaves on trees or shrubs, plant buds, and more.

©yosefus/Shutterstock.com

An entire herd of gazelle can eat a lot of plant matter in a day, especially if you take into account that some herds have hundreds of gazelles in them. That’s a lot of grass getting consumed!

While these herbivores graze on many plants, they can be selective in terms of what will yield the most energy output. Gazelles are often on the run, given that they are usually prey for other animals. They can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour!

Does a Gazelle Drink Water?

Gazelles may not need to drink water in order to live. According to The Royal Society, many species of gazelle and desert antelope don’t need water to survive. This isn’t entirely true, of course- we all need water in order to live.

It is more accurate to say that gazelles get all of the hydration and water they need from the plants that they consume. This must be an evolution or an adaptation these animals have gained after generations living in harsh desert climates with little water available.

Some species of gazelles need to seek out sources of water, but not all of them do. It all depends on the specific species, though many desert gazelles can go their entire lives without finding a water source to drink from.

While gazelles will drink water should they come across a river or oasis in the desert, they don’t need to worry about this necessary substance- so long as they are consistently eating plants!

What Do Gazelles Eat?
While these herbivores graze on many plants, they can be selective in terms of what will yield the most energy output.

©Lian Deng/Shutterstock.com

How Much Does a Gazelle Eat?

A gazelle has been known to eat as much as 3-6 pounds of grass or plant matter per day. 

While this depends on the age and gender of the gazelle, a study done by Ecography states that most gazelles eat roughly 18% protein every day as well. This is a fairly high percentage when you consider that a gazelle is munching exclusively on grass!

However, not many studies have been performed to get a more accurate read on how much a gazelle can eat in one day. They graze and eat often, so the number may in fact 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 back legs like humans in order to reach tree leaves and taller shrubs. This sort of effort may mean that gazelles are indeed eating more than we ever thought possible!

Do Gazelles Have Any 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 living, this also leads to the opportunity for other animals to target gazelles, especially ones that may be weak or sick. Young gazelles are often victims to 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 Gazelles Eat?
Gazelles have many predators, including hyenas, lions, cheetahs, and crocodiles.

©slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com

What Do Different Types of Gazelle Eat?

There are roughly 20 different species of gazelles found 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 material.

However, some species of gazelle are more selective than others. For example, according to a study performed by the Journal of Mammalogy, they discovered that Grant’s gazelles browse more than Thomson’s gazelles do.

Grant’s gazelles also survive on far less water than Thomson’s gazelles, getting all of their hydration from plants while Thomson’s gazelles need to seek water in order to live. Grant’s gazelles sound like they are more selective eaters overall!

According to the Journal of Animal Ecology, gazelles eat very similarly to wildebeest. Given that the two animals live in the same general area, wildebeest can be considered competition for a gazelle’s source of food.

No matter what, these animals love new and freshly sprouted grass. Gazelles are often found grazing in areas recently damaged by fires. This is because new grass often grows first in wildfire areas, and these green sprouts are no doubt irresistible to gazelles of all species.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Agami Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

August Croft is a writer at A-Z Animals where their primary focus is on astrology, symbolism, and gardening. August has been writing a variety of content for over 4 years and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theater from Southern Oregon University, which they earned in 2014. They are currently working toward a professional certification in astrology and chart reading. A resident of Oregon, August enjoys playwriting, craft beer, and cooking seasonal recipes for their friends and high school sweetheart.

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