Dama Gazelle

The dama gazelle, addra gazelle, or Mhorr gazelle (Nanger dama formerly Gazella dama) is a species of gazelle. It lives in Africa in the Sahara desert and migrates south in search of food during the dry season, particularly Chad, Mali, and Niger. Its habitat includes open steppes; bushy, grassy steppes; semi-deserts; and deserts; while their diet includes grasses, leaves (especially Acacia leaves), shoots, and fruit. After the rains return and the desert plants turn green, the gazelles move north back to the Sahara. Poaching and destruction of their habitat have greatly diminished their numbers, and they no longer live in large herds.

In Niger, the dama has become a national symbol. Under the Hausa name meyna or ménas the Dama appears on the badge of the Niger national football team, who are popularly called the Ménas.