Multi Masters Group Multi Masters Group has decided to extend its sponsorship of the dorcas gazelle at ZOO Planckendael for another year. Since 2020, Multi Masters Group has taken on the sponsorship of endangered or vulnerable species. Anyone looking at our company logo will understand why we prefer ‘deer’.
Lieve Fransen of ZOO Planckendael hands over the new sponsorship certificate to Philip Paelinck of Multi Masters Group.
Supporting endangered and vulnerable species
Four years ago, Multi Masters Group decided to commit to endangered and vulnerable species. The first question then was: which animal best matches our company? That question was answered by looking at our logo. From then on, we knew: we want to do something for ‘deer’. To be clear: the animals in our logo are not really ‘deer’, but springboks. Hence the name of our magazine.
We contacted ZOO Planckendael and learned that the springbok is not an endangered species. However, this is the case for some close relatives of the springbok, such as the dune gazelle.
‘Guido’ the dune gazelle (Photo © ZOO Planckendael / Jonas Verhulst)
Sponsorship of the dune gazelle at ZOO Planckendael
So we decided to take on the sponsorship of the dune gazelle. A species of which only about 250 still survive in the wild. One could be found in zoos all over Europe, i.e. in ZOO Planckendael.
Within our company, the dune gazelle quickly became a mascot. Employees went looking for our ‘godchild’ in the zoo, which was even given a name in our company. For four years, the dune gazelle of ZOO Planckendael went through life within Multi Masters Group as ‘Guido Gazelle’, with a nod to the 19th-century writer Guido Gezelle.
Guido Gazelle passed away
In March 2024, however, we received some bad news: Guido had passed away. A a result, not a single dune gazelle could be found across Europe anymore. This made us give extra thought to the consequences of climate change. Because that, along with hunting, is the main reason why the dune gazelle is barely found in the wild anymore.
Sponsorship of the dorcas gazelle in ZOO Planckendael
We quickly decided that this setback should not overshadow our support for endangered and vulnerable species. After consultation, we decided to take on the sponsorship of the dorcas gazelle at ZOO Planckendael. Now we have extended that commitment for another year.
The dorcas gazelle is a vulnerable species
The situation of the dorcas gazelle is not as acute as that of the dune gazelle, but it does require attention. A few decades ago, around 40,000 dorcas gazelles lived on the sparsely vegetated rocky plains in the northern part of Africa. Due to hunting, overgrazing and climate change, their numbers have shrunk by more than 30 per cent over the past 15 years. Their population is therefore described as ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). All the more reason to pledge our support to these graceful animals.
Dorcas gazelle at ZOO Planckendael (Photo © ZOO Planckendael / Jonas Verhulst)
How to recognise the dorcas gazelle?
The dorcas gazelle resembles its ‘cousin’ the dune gazelle. It has yellowish to reddish-brown fur with an inconspicuous flank stripe. Clear stripes run across the snout. On its head are lyre-shaped horns. Its height at the withers is over 50 cm and its weight can vary between 15 and 30 kg. It can live up to 12 years. When this herbivore flees, you will recognise it by its bouncing jumps. In harsh conditions, dorcas gazelles live in pairs. When conditions are more favourable, they gather in family herds with an adult male, several females and young.
Five godchildren
And such a herd appears to reside in ZOO Planckendael. Indeed, there are not one but no less than five dorcas gazelles there, including two lambs. One of them was born Christmas Eve and was appropriately named Yesus. Another lamb was born in early 2024: Zorro. And so Multi Masters Group suddenly has not one but five godchildren. And that already until at least the middle of 2025. We are eager to see Yesus and Zorro grow up thanks to our support.
The dorcas gazelles at ZOO Planckendael (Photo © ZOO Planckendael / Jonas Verhulst)
