A Study on Some Biological Aspects of Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas) under captive conditions

Abstract

The present study was conducted during the period (15th February to 30th March 2018) at Kuku Zoo Animal to determine the morphological characteristic ,food preferences on some selected common food stuff and observations of daily activities on captive Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas),. Seven pairs (7male and 7female) of Dorcas gazelle were divided into two groups; five adult pairs between the age (26 – 108 months) and two juvenile pairs (4 – 9 months). The animals were accommodated in seven separate enclosure pens with dimensions: 6m. ×2.8m. ×3m constructed with iron rails. The morphological measurements of different parts of the body for adult gazelle were: body weight (12.52±2.66kg), horns length (30.4±8.95cm), total length (91.4±12.22cm), fore-limbs length (59.5±5.48cm), hind-limbs length (72.3±6.60cm), facial length (20±2.58cm), shoulder height (50.3±4.76cm), ear length (20.2±1.81cm) and tail length (23.4±2.88cm) for both adult male and female. The juvenile gazelles measurements were: body weight (6.38±1.93kg), horns length (11.75±5.56cm), total length (70±19.11cm), fore-limbs length (46.5±9.57cm), hind-limbs length (55±8.45cm), facial length (16.75±4.99cm), shoulder height (38.25±9.60cm), ear length (11.75±2.22cm) and tail length (17.25±1.83cm) for both male and female Two adult pairs (2males and 2females) of Dorcas gazelle were accommodated in separate enclosure pens with dimensions: 6m. ×2.8m. ×3m constructed of iron rails. The animals were rationed in different foodstuff; Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Sorghum (Sorghum vulgare), common wheat bran (Triticum aestivum), and Sorghum straw (Sorghum bicolor) over a period of fifteen days to determine the animals food preference and daily feed intake. Sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) was highly IX preferred diet with intake 643±219.66g/day; while Abu 70 (Sorghum bicolor) feed was the least preferred with intake 141.3±52.55g/day from diets offered to Dorcas gazelle in captivity. The behavior under captivity was observed in four Dorcas gazelle (26, 36, 60, 108 month) old. Different behavior pattern were observed such as; lying down, standing, pacing/walking, eating, ruminating, playing, Romancing &Mating, drinking, defecating and urinating. Lying down was the dominant activity, especially during the night with rate 48.56% followed by standing, pacing/walking, eating, ruminating, playing, Romancing &Mating, drinking, defecating and urinating with rate 15.42%, 11.61%, 10.42%, 9.95%, 3.36%, 0.23%, 0.19%, 0.17%, 0.09% respectively.