One of the most iconic animals of the Central Asian grasslands, known for forming some of the largest remaining land-mammal migrations in the world. Found mainly in Mongolia but also in parts of China and Russia, this elegant gazelle thrives in vast, open steppes and plains where it can run freely and cover great distances in search of food and water. With its slender body, long legs, and gentle face, the Mongolian gazelle is perfectly adapted to life in wide, treeless landscapes where speed and vigilance are key to survival.

Mongolian gazelle’s coats are sandy or reddish-brown in summer, fading to a pale grayish-white in winter, helping them blend into the landscape throughout the year. One of their most unusual traits is the male’s inflatable throat sac, which they use during the mating season to produce loud, honking calls — a distinctive feature not seen in many other gazelles. Males also have slightly curved horns, while females typically do not.

These gazelles are grazers, feeding mostly on grasses and herbs. They move with the seasons, often covering hundreds of kilometers to find fresh grazing grounds, especially during harsh winters or dry summers. Their migrations, while not as famous as those of African wildebeest, involve tens of thousands — even hundreds of thousands — of individuals moving together across the steppes. It’s a breathtaking natural event and an important part of the grassland ecosystem, as the grazing patterns help renew vegetation and support predators like wolves and eagles.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

China

2016

Kazakhstan

Official estimate

EX

Extinct locally

Mongolia

2016

Russia

2016