Przewalski’s Gazelle inhabit plateaux, open valleys, moraines and stabilised dunes containing steppe vegetation, meadows and the desert-shrub ecotone (Leslie et al. 2010; Li et al. 2013). The habitat of the remaining population around Qinghai Lake lies at elevations of 3,194–5,174 m (Jiang and Wang 2001). This information may misrepresent the species preferences however, as it is derived from their current distribution in the possibly sub-optimum habitats that it has been relegated to in its former range, and does not take onto account the former distribution on Gansu and other areas.

Formerly Przewalski's Gazelle was widespread across the high plateaus of northwestern China from the area around Qinghai Lake through Gansu (Hexi Corridor) to Ningxia, possibly Shanxi and Inner Mongolia (Ordos and Alashan Plateaux) (Jiang et al. 1995, Jiang et al. 2000, Harris 2008).

Now the species is confined to 13 sites, within five isolated areas around Qinghai Lake occupying a total area of only ca. 250 km² (Li et al. 2012, Li et al. 2013). These are Bird Island on the western side of the lake; Haergai-Ganzihe and Tale Xuanguo on the north-eastern side; Shadao, Hudong-Ketu and Yuanzhe on the south-eastern side; Wayu 50km to the south-west; and the area west of Tianjun, about 120 km north-west of the lake (Zhang et al. 2013).

Protected by law as a Category I species in China since 1988. In 2001 it was designated as one of 15 taxa most urgently in need of protection in China. There are several new Forest Police posts within the remaining area of distribution and illegal hunting is no longer an important factor. The species is now regarded as a conservation priority by national and provincial governments. The population growth of Przewalski’s Gazelle since the 1980s can be mainly attributed to the establishment of protected areas and a nationwide prohibition on hunting (Li et al. 2012). Four sites (Bird Island, Shadao, Ganzihe and Haergai), with ca 59% of the total population of Przewalski’s Gazelle, are protected within Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve and, except for that of Bird Island, have increased within the last two decades (Jiang et al. 1995, Ye et al. 2006). Further growth of these gazelle populations is constrained by limited habitat availability and human–gazelle conflict (Li et al. 2012).