Mongolian Gazelle

Identification

The Mongolian gazelle, or dzeren, is a medium-sized antelope with a distinctly fluffy, thick coat that gives it an almost "teddy bear"-like appearance—quite different from sleeker true gazelles. In summer, its coat is tawny light brown with pale pinkish tones; in winter, the fur grows thicker, longer, and paler. The most distinctive marking is a heart-shaped white patch on the rump, divided by a darker median line. Males possess elegant lyre-shaped horns that curl backwards from the forehead. Despite their stocky build, these animals are extremely capable long-distance runners and good swimmers.

Range & Habitat

Mongolian gazelles inhabit the semiarid Central Asian steppes, with their range spanning Mongolia, southern Siberia, and northern China. They thrive in flat or gently undulating steppes and dry grasslands, particularly in steppe and desert-steppe habitats dotted with vegetation clusters. The species' global range covers approximately 746,281 square kilometers, with 91% in Mongolia, 5% in China, and 4% in Russia.

Behaviour & Diet

These gazelles are highly migratory, undertaking seasonal movements in spring and autumn that vary depending on weather and food availability. In winter they are mostly diurnal, while in summer they are active primarily around sunrise and sunset. Mongolian gazelles are intensely social: summer groups typically consist of 20–30 individuals, expanding to around 100 in winter, though herds of 5,000 are not uncommon. The mating season occurs in late autumn or winter, when males' throats swell dramatically. Females separate from the herd in June and July to give birth, usually to a single calf (occasionally twins) weighing about 3 kg, which can follow its mother after just a few days.

Best Time & Places to See It

The Mongolian gazelle remains one of the world's most numerous large animals, with approximately 1.5 million individuals surviving today. The species is most reliably encountered across Mongolia's vast steppes, particularly during the dramatic seasonal gatherings that occur in spring and autumn. Notably, in 2007 a mega-herd of a quarter-million gazelles was documented gathering on Mongolia's steppes—a spectacular reminder of these regions as one of Earth's last great wildernesses.

Photography Tips

The gazelles' distinctive heart-shaped white rump patch is a key identifying feature and makes an excellent compositional focal point. The dramatic seasonal coat changes offer opportunities for varied imagery throughout the year. Winter herds, which can number in the hundreds, provide opportunities for wide landscape shots capturing the scale of these gatherings. Early morning and late evening light during summer months will beautifully illuminate their pale winter coats if photographing at those transition seasons. Wide-angle lenses are useful for capturing herds in their vast steppe habitat, while telephoto lenses allow detail work on the lyre-shaped horns and facial features.