|Geographical Range||Eastern Africa|
|Habitat||Dry bush savannahs and deserts|
|Scientific Name||Litocranius walleri walleri|
|Conservation Status||Near threatened|
Gerenuks make their home on the dry savannahs of East Africa. One of the most desert-adapted antelopes, gerenuks are able to survive for long periods without water. The males with their lyre-shaped horns are usually found overseeing small herds of females and their calves. Male gerenuks mark the bushes along the edges of their territories with secretions from the scent glands in front of their eyes.
These antelopes have actually benefitted from environmental changes caused by the overgrazing of domestic livestock. The barren scrubland left in the wake of the destructive cattle is prime habitat for gerenuks.
Did You Know?
Gerenuks often extend their reach by standing upright on their hind legs to browse on low tree branches.