Gazelle

Shirvan National Park

An animal species belonging to the class Mammalia, the order Artiodactyla, and the family Bovidae. Its historical population has survived only within Shirvan National Park and Korçay State Nature Reserve. Since 2010, within the framework of the project “Protection of Gazelles, Reintroduction, and Restoration of Their Historical Ranges in the Territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” implemented by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, IDEA Public Union, and the WWF Azerbaijan Representation, a total of 443 gazelles have been reintroduced into various areas, including the Aghjinour Plain, the Gobustan Plateau, the Shakhdili Peninsula, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and the Samukh and Jabrayil districts. It is a medium-sized even-toed ungulate. Lyre-shaped horns are found only in males. The horns are 27–41 cm long, the body length is 94–115 cm, and the shoulder height ranges from 67 to 80 cm. The live weight of adults reaches 24–33 kg. Males are larger than females. The upper and sides of the body are sand-coloured. The underside of the body, throat, and inner sides of the legs are white. The tip of the tail is black. It mainly inhabits flat and hilly terrain. Gazelles live in groups. The mating season begins in autumn. The young are born in April–May.