Gerenuk

Scientific name: Litocranius walleri

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Slender, long-necked antelope with a tawny to buff coat and white underparts. Males are notably larger and darker than females, with long, slender, lyre-shaped horns; females are hornless.

Size and weight

Males 42–52 kg, females 28–35 kg; body length 140–160 cm.

Habitat

Arid and semi-arid thornbush savanna, acacia woodlands, and desert scrub. Prefers broken terrain with sparse vegetation at elevations from sea level to 1,500 m.

Distribution

Endemic to the Horn of Africa, primarily in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia. Restricted to arid lowland scrublands with scattered acacia thickets.

Diet

Primarily acacia leaves, buds, and seed pods; supplements with grasses and herbs when available, showing strong seasonal preference for fresh vegetation.

Behaviour

Predominantly diurnal, most active in early morning and late afternoon. Solitary or in pairs; males are territorial; moves deliberately and often stands bipedally on hind legs to browse high foliage.

Hunting tips

Look for narrow, sharp hoof prints and small, pellet-like droppings in sand and dust near acacia patches. Approach from downwind using low scrub for cover; move slowly and watch for the characteristic upright stance. Glass open areas at dawn and dusk when animals are most visible feeding on high branches.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 2 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.