Gazelles in Jerusalem preparing for winter

 Jerusalem has 80 urban gazelles and they are preparing for winter.

Warm up

As Jerusalem's weather cools, the endangered wild Israeli gazelles are changing their diet and eating habits. They also do a warm-up run to keep warm during the coming cold Jerusalem winter.

Winter is approaching and the 80 animals prepare to survive the cold, rainy weather in Jerusalem.

The gazelles are  switching from eating dry grass to fallen leaves, almonds and olives that are rich in nutrients and oils that provide a lot of energy.

In addition, the animals do instinctive physical training to keep warm.

In the evening the gazelles go for a run to warm up before the temperature drops.

All the animals in the herd participate in the running and this 'training' can take a very long time.

Endangered species

This is very special, because the mountain gazelle of Israel is an endangered species worldwide. About 5000 still live in the wild.

The greatest danger to gazelles in the wild is the destruction of their natural habitat. Also the construction of roads that interrupt their habitats and isolate them from their habitats of their own kind.

Additional threats to the lives of gazelles are illegal hunters, who hunt them mainly for the sale of their meat and hides. Another problem is the huge increase in stray dogs and jackals that prey on the gazelles and their fawns.