In a fascinating discovery, a rare six-legged mountain gazelle has been sighted in Israel. The male gazelle, equipped with an extra pair of legs growing from its back, seems to be managing perfectly fine with the unusual appendages. The discovery was made by an Israeli army reservist who captured a photo of the remarkable creature and sent it to the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), after noticing "something strange on its back."

Amir Balaban, a conservationist with SPNI, expressed admiration for the six-legged gazelle's ability to endure and thrive, despite its complex condition. Surviving from a complicated litter and successfully overcoming various predators as a young fawn, the gazelle has grown into an impressive adult within the Nahal HaBasor reserve. This nature reserve, situated in Israel's southern Negev desert, is considered one of the last strongholds for the Israeli gazelle in the western Negev.

Contrary to expectations, the gazelle is reported to be healthy, strong, and remarkably leading an active life. Balaban revealed that the gazelle is currently nurturing three female gazelles and a fawn from the previous fall. Displaying resilience, the extraordinary legs on its back are not posing any challenges for the gazelle as it continues to host the females in the fields.

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel attributed the additional legs to a rare genetic disorder called organ proliferation, or polymelia. Remarkably, this is the first recorded instance of polymelia being documented in a mountain gazelle in the Middle East. While the condition occurs more frequently in cattle, birds, and reptiles, it has not been observed in this endangered species before.

Mountain gazelles are a protected wild species in Israel, with an estimated population of only around 5,000 remaining in the wild. They can be found primarily in Israel but also across the region, including the Palestinian territories, Turkey, and parts of Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.

The remarkable sighting of the thriving six-legged mountain gazelle highlights the resilience and adaptability of wildlife in the face of genetic abnormalities. It serves as a reminder of the importance of biodiversity conservation efforts in ensuring the preservation of unique and endangered species.