Gemsboks (Oryx gazella, Oryx beisa)
Read More
These 3 images depict a very rarely seen--much less, photographed--event of two male Gemsboks in a serious fight for dominance of the herd. The alpha male is the one with the bloody neck (L image); the challenger's horn can be seen about 8 inches under the skin (R image). The challenger has succeeded in stabbing the alpha (pride) male's head (Center image). However, the alpha male, even with the tip of his right horn broken (animal on R, center image) was the victor. [Central Kalahari, Botswana].
Gemsbok fight (triple image) #2: We were only about 50 feet away and could easily hear their grunting & heavy breathing, and the loud clashing of horns as they blocked the other's thrusts. The challenger lost the fight when he jumped on the alpha male's back (ctr image), instead of driving one of his horns into the other's perineum or side. Their horns are 3 feet long, sharp-pointed, and wielded by this large, heavily muscled animal. These fights may result in death of one of the contestants. The challenger was not as strong as the herd (alpha) male. He broke off the fight and fled. He will never be allowed back in his former territory, nor be with the herd, so long as the alpha male lives. He would first have to fight & kill the alpha male in a rematch. [Central Kalahari, Botswana].
This is the herd of the two fighting Gemsbocks gazella. A southern african gemsbok (Oryx gazella) is very similar to the Beisa Oryx in East Africa. Both are very handsome animals. The male can weigh over 550 lbs., and is about 4 ft. tall at the shoulder. Both sexes bear horns.[Central Kalahari, Botswana].
Male and female (front) Gemsboks gazella walking in a savanna. [Central Kalahari, Botswana].
A Beisa Oryx male, like the one above, is somewhat heavier and thicker through the body. [Serengeti, Tanzania].
