The two-year-old joins the Thomson's gazelle group at BIOPARC Valencia. Thomson's gazelle is the fastest African antelope and can only be seen in eight parks across Europe. Its striking coat, with the characteristic black stripe down its back, makes it easily recognizable in the park's impressive savanna recreation, where it lives alongside three other antelope species, ostriches, exotic birds, and giraffes.
There are images that perfectly capture the essence of Africa. At BIOPARC Valencia, one of them happens every day when Thomson's gazelles (Eudorcas thomsoniThey cross the savanna, raising their gaze and awakening the admiration of those who stop to observe this beautiful landscape firsthand. “Look how they run,” is one of the most common expressions heard upon discovering them. one of the five fastest mammals on the planet and surpassed only by the cheetah in Africa. Capable of exceeding 70 kilometers per hour, its endurance in maintaining those speeds for long periods is its most valuable defense against predators.
BIOPARC Valencia receives a male Thomson's gazelle
Now, a two-year-old male from Safari Park Dvůr Králové (Czech Republic) has joined the Thomson's gazelle herd at the Valencian park, which consists of three adult females and four calves. This group is especially valuable considering that It can only be seen in two Spanish parks (Oasys Animal Reserve of Almería and BIOPARC Valencia) and in just eight European centers.
Thomson's gazelles in the BIOPARC Valencia savanna
Their adaptation has been gradual, always ensuring the well-being of the newcomer and the other individuals. In the first phase, the encounters with the females took place in the indoor facilities.
After observing the excellent coexistence and behavior of the group, Its integration was completed with the outing to the multi-species enclosure of BIOPARC Valencia, where it lives alongside impalas (Aepyceros melampus), blesboks (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi), aquatic antelopes (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus), Baringo giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi), ostriches (Struthio camelus), the African jabiru (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) and a wide variety of ducks and fish.
This exceptional and swift runner is distinguished by its elegant silhouette and is easily recognizable by the black stripe along its sides that separates its reddish-brown back from its white belly. Although currently the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorizes this species as "least concern" in the Red ListIts continued population decline keeps raising concerns about its future. According to the latest studies, it is estimated that Approximately 145.000 specimens survive of this beautiful African animal.
The conservation of gazelles at BIOPARC Valencia
The protection of gazelles is one of BIOPARC Valencia's lines of work. Along with the Thomson's gazelle sanctuary, it also houses the Mhorr gazelle (Nanger dama mhorr). the latter with a recent birth is a symbol of hope for this critically endangered speciesThis baby joins the elephant (Malik and Makena), rhinoceros (Kairu), and chimpanzee (Ekon and Cala) offspring, which are examples of... The park's strong commitment to preserving biodiversity.
