Grant's Gazelle
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Bovidae
Subfamily:	Antilopinae
Genus:	Nanger
Species:	N. granti
Binomial name
Nanger granti (Brooke, 1872)[2]

The Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti) is a species of gazelle. Its populations are distributed from northern Tanzania to southern Sudan and Ethiopia, and from the Kenyan coast to Lake Victoria.^[3] Its Swahili name is Swala Granti.^[4]

Taxonomy and genetics[link]

Grant's gazelle is more genetically related to Soemmerring's gazelle (N. soemmerringii) and Thomson’s gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) with Soemmering’s gazelle being the closest relative out of the two species.^[3] Grant's gazelle shows high genetic variation among its populations even though there is no geographic isolation. The differentiation of the species may have evolved during repeated expansion and contraction of arid habitats during the late Pleistocene era in which populations were possibly isolated.^[3] Grant's gazelle was formerly considered a member of the genus Gazella within the subgenus Nanger before Nanger was elevated to genus status.

Grant's gazelle

[edit] Subspecies^[2]

• Nanger granti brighti (Thomas, 1901) – Bright's Gazelle
• Nanger granti granti (Brooke, 1872) – Southern Grant's Gazelle
• Nanger granti lacuum (Neumann, 1906) – Northern Grant's Gazelle
• Nanger granti petersi (Günther, 1884) – Peter's Gazelle
• Nanger granti robertsi (Thomas, 1903) – Robert's Gazelle

Appearance[link]

The Grant's gazelle stands 75–95 cm (30–37 in) to the shoulder. The females weigh from 35 to 50 kg (77 to 110 lb) and males from 50 to 80 kg (110 to 180 lb).^[5][4] Its coat is a beige orange on the back with a white belly. The Grant's gazelle looks similar to a Thomson's gazelle except it has lyre-shaped horns which are stout at the base, clearly ringed and measuring 45–81 cm (18–32 in) long. The subspecies are segregated by different morphological characters such as; horn shape and slight differences in coat colour.^[3] These differences are not indicative of ecological separation as with some species.^[3] Grant's gazelles are extremely fast; they can run 97 km/h (60 mph) on the other hand the big males do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph).^{[citation needed]}

Ecology[link]

Grant's gazelles at green grassland

The Grant's gazelle is found in East Africa and lives in open grass plains and frequently found in shrublands; it avoids areas that have high grass where the visibility of predators is compromised. They also occur in semi-arid areas as well, and are relatively arid-adapted,^[3] relying on more "browse" or leafy material during dry seasons in order to supplement their intake of water.^[6] They are migratory animals but travel in the opposite direction of most of the other ungulates like Thompson's gazelles, zebras and wildebeests which are more water dependant. They can subsist on vegetation in waterless, semiarid areas. Here they face little competition.

Grant's gazelles at dry brushland

Grant’s gazelles are generally mixed feeders that both browse and graze. Their average diet consists of 65.8% browse and 34.3% graze.^[7] Rainfall in their habitats seem to be the determinant of their diets.^[7] The Grant's gazelle's diet may also be responsible for the slow growth rates in the browsed plots.^[8] They get most of their moisture from the plants they eat so they don’t have to drink water often. Thus they can stay on the plains long after the rains end. From July to September, gazelles move deep into dense brush and wait for the next rains.^[9] They will eat red oats and small crunchy plants,^[10] which are avoided by the other ungulates. This allows the gazelles to survive in the brush during the dry season. Grant’s gazelles eat mainly dicotyledons during the dry season and grass in the wet season.^[11]

The most common predators of the Grant's gazelle are cheetahs^[12] and wild dogs. Humans also tend to hunt gazelles. In the Serengeti, Grant's gazelle is a prey item for cheetahs but Thomson's gazelle is more preferred. However, in Nairobi National Park, Grant's gazelle is preferred over Thomson's gazelle making it an important resource to the cheetah.^[12] Jackals are major predators of fawns.

Lifecycle[link]

Herd of Grant's gazelles

The Grant's gazelle is a gregarious, territorial, and migratory species.^[3] The home ranges of does overlap with that of the bucks. Only male gazelles are territorial. Male gazelles will herd all females that cross their territories. When the females are in estrous, they are strongly guarded by the dominant male who prevents other males from mating with them. Any doe that tries to leave is aggressively herded back.^[13] Most of the time, the buck’s simple stance in relation to her is enough to keep the female from leaving.

Bachelor groups are made up of adolescent and non-territory holding bucks. Any new members must perform intimidation displays to enter the group.^[9] However bachelor groups tend to be very loose and members can leave whenever they want. The larger, older males with thick horns have the best chance of establishing a territory.^[14] Conflicts between adult males are usually solved with intimidation displays. The bucks circle each other and swing their necks from side to side, displaying their neck power.^[15] Neck strength is important in an actual fight and the male that can’t keep up yields. Gazelles of nearly equal neck strength are more likely to engage in actual combat. Fighting occurs in young bucks more often than older ones. Dominant bucks can simply run off subordinates rather than having to display to them.

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Female and young Grant's gazelles

Reproduction[link]

Grant’s gazelles sexually mature at 18 months. Territory-holding bucks mate more than ones in bachelor groups. The courting ritual begins with a buck following a doe, waiting for her to urinate. When she does, the male does the flehmen to determine if she is in estrous. If she is, he will continue to follow her. The female will lift her tail, signaling that she is ready to mate and the male will copulate her.^[15] The gestation period for the gazelle lasts for 198 days.^[16] Births peak in January and February. A doe will leave her herd and find a well hidden place to give birth. Afterwards, the female eats the afterbirth and other fluids to keep the fawn clean and scentless. Females that have recently given birth will stay together for protection.^[15] The does nurse their fawns four times a day. Fawns are immobile for the first few days so the mother stays close by.^[17] When the fawn can walk, it leaves with its mother to find a herd.^[18] Around thus time, fawns will associate with one another in peer groups. A gazelle is weaned at six months but will continue to associate with its mother until adolescence.^[15]

Status[link]

The Grant’s gazelle is still a common species despite having been eradicated in certain areas. Major threats have been habitat destruction and hunting. The gazelle’s status as an unthreatened species is dependent on protection of the national parks and reserves it lives in. Examples of such parks include Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, and Lake Turkana National Parks in Kenya. Estimates of the population range from 140,000 to 350,000. While certain areas have stable populations, overall the population trend is going downward.^[1]

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Grant's gazelle

Wikispecies has information related to: Nanger granti

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Grant's is a blended Scotch whisky bottled by William Grant & Sons in Scotland.

History[link]

In 1886, William Grant started working in the distillery business as a Bookkeeper. In 1898, Pattison's, the largest Scotch whisky blender at the time, suddenly went bankrupt and William Grant stepped in and launched Grant's whisky.

William built the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Scotland with the help of his seven sons and two daughters and on Christmas Day, 1887 it produced its first drops of spirit.

Later, William’s son-in-law Charles Gordon became the company’s first salesman and in 1909 spent a year taking Grant’s to Australia and the Far East.

In 1915, a new law stated that the minimum maturation period for Scotch whisky was to be two years (today it is three). While this led to the ruin of many a Scotch whisky distillery, William Grant had kept a supply of aging whisky in stock and was able to ensure continued production.

William Grant died in 1923 but by this time, the family business was well established.

In 1963, William’s great grandson, Charles Gordon oversaw construction of the Girvan grain distillery – now the world’s second largest grain whisky producer.

In 1979, Grant’s UK sales surpassed 1 million cases for the first time.

Today, Grant’s continues to be family owned and run. The current CEO, Peter Gordon is the fifth generation of the family to head the business.

Grant’s is the oldest family-owned blended whisky and is currently sold in over 180 countries. It is the world's third largest Scotch whisky brand, selling 4.9 million cases of whisky in 2010.

Bottle[link]

In 1957, Grant’s was first sold in a triangular bottle.

The designer, Hans Schleger, came to Britain as a refugee from Nazi Germany. He was asked to create a distinctive, elegant bottle that would showcase the quality and colour of the whisky as well being able to be stacked and packed efficiently.

In 2002, the Grant’s bottle and label were both updated. This included embossing the bottle with the Grant coat of arms and the motto ‘Stand Fast’ – the war cry of Clan Grant,to which William belonged. The words Est. 1887 and ‘Independent Family Distillers for Five Generations’ were also added.

Whiskies[link]

The full range includes the Family Reserve, Ale Cask, Sherry Cask, 12, 18 & 25 Year Old.

Grant’s blended whiskies are made using grain whisky from the Girvan distillery as a base, blended with a variety of single malts and other grain whiskies.

The distillery at Girvan produces a light grain whisky that allows the character and sweetness of the malt whiskies to come through into the final blend.

Grant’s Family Reserve is described as having a complex, clean and fruity taste. “It defies the odds for quality” says Jim Murray in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2010.

Grant’s 12 Year Old Whisky is blended from whiskies that have matured for a minimum of 12 years. It is described as having a warm and fruity taste with a hint of spice.

Grant’s Ale Cask Reserve is the only Scotch finished in Ale casks and giving it a taste described as creamy, malty and honeyed.

Grant’s Sherry Cask Reserve finishes its maturation in oak casks that have previously held Oloroso sherry. This imparts distinctive sherry wood notes. The key flavours are sherry, oak and smoke.

Grant’s Blended Malt has been created exclusively from Speyside-style single malts to produce a blend with a malty, fruity taste. Available exclusively in Taiwan, its taste is described as sweet, smooth and delicate.

Grant’s Rare 18 Year Old Whisky is a Scotch whisky described as rich and full bodied with fruity port notes.

Grant’s 25 Year Old Whisky is a blend of 25 malt and grain whiskies, including the first ever whisky laid down at Grant’s Girvan distillery. It is described as having a smooth, singular, sweetness.

Grant’s Distillery Edition a non-chill filtered blend which imparts a greater depth of flavour and intensity of taste that is described as brilliantly, intriguingly and deliciously structured.

Trivia[link]

There is an area in the Scottish town of Paisley where the streets are named after Grant's as it was originally the location of a large warehouse belonging to the company

External links[link]

• Grant's International website