Wildebeest typically inhabit the Serengeti plains of southeastern Africa. Another reason is that Zebras and Wildebeests love the open African savannas – in comparison to Kudus or other antelopes that prefer the thicker bush. [11] Others contend the name and its pronunciation in English go back to the word !nu: used for the black wildebeest by the San people. Both males and females have horns, however the males’ horns are larger and joined at the base by a boss-like structure. Wildebeest are continually on the move as they seek favorable supplies of grass and water, and are active during both day and night. The alarm calls were a response of the baboons to lions, and the contest calls were recorded when a dispute between two males occurred. [45], Major predators that feed on wildebeest include the lion, hyena, African wild dog, cheetah, leopard, and crocodile, which seem to favour the wildebeest over other prey. Currently, the reserve has 62 missions: 16 main missions and 32 side missions and 14 warden missions, making the reserve to be the map with the least missions. The calving peak period lasts for 2–3 weeks, and in small subpopulations and isolated groups, mortality of calves may be as high as 50%. Missions on the Vurhonga Savanna Reserve are provided by the reserve warden Njabulo Tshabangu. [37] It is no longer found in Malawi but has been successfully reintroduced into Namibia. Wildebeest also called Gnu on African savannah in Serengeti, Tanzania. They have a gray coat and a black mane as well as a beard that can be black or white. Its range includes Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Angola. In one of the more striking examples of the consequences of fence-building on terrestrial migrations, Botswanan authorities placed thousands of kilometres of fences across the Kalahari that prevented wildebeests from reaching watering holes and grazing grounds, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of individuals, reducing the wildebeest population to less than 10% of its previous size. The herd of migrating antelopes goes on dusty savanna. [27], Both species of wildebeest are even-toed, horned, greyish-brown ungulates resembling cattle. Wildebeest is Dutch for "wild beast" or "wild cattle" in Afrikaans (bees "cattle"), while Connochaetes derives from the Greek words κόννος, kónnos, "beard",[8] and χαίτη, khaítē, "flowing hair", "mane". It has now been reintroduced to them and also introduced to Namibia, where it has become well established. They numbered about 250,000 in 1960 as compared to approximately 1.5 million today. The blue wildebeest is the bigger of the two species. Grass-grazing wildebeests -- and their calves in particular -- are targets of carnivorous cheetahs, lions and hyenas. They numbered about 250,000 in 1960 as compared to approximately 1.5 million today. Earn commission from each customer you refer. [28] This usually occurs between May and July, and birthing usually takes place between January and March, at the start of the wet season. Wildebeest have a maximum running speed of around 80 km/h (50 mph). [59] Wildebeest, however, can also have a negative impact on humans. This dried game meat is a delicacy and an important food item in Africa. Savannas are home to a wide diversity of animals. Wildebeest Wildebeest is a large antelope found in acacia savannah plains, most of the woodlands and grasslands of east and South Africa. The reason for the decline is thought to be the increasing competition between cattle and wildebeest for a diminishing area of grazing land as a result of changes in agricultural practices, and possibly fluctuations in rainfall. Their dull teeth grind what they eat. Males are larger than females and both have heavy forequarters compared to their hindquarters. [14][24], The two species of the wildebeest are known to hybridise. [32], Not all wildebeest are migratory. As a result, during the rainy season, wildebeest select grazing areas that contain particularly high phosphorus levels. The calves weigh about 21 kg (46 lb) at birth[10] and scramble to their feet within minutes, being able to move with the herd soon afterwards,[32] a fact on which their survival relies. Bulls may occupy territories, usually about 100 to 400 m (300 to 1,300 ft) apart, but this spacing varies according to the quality of the habitat. It is highly gregarious and superbly adapted for a migratory existence. [32] Wildebeest, however, are very strong, and can inflict considerable injury even to a lion. ... the central African savanna buffalo, and the southern savanna buffalo or Cape buffalo. The savanna now belonged to baboons, warthogs, bushbuck and especially waterbuck, which dominated the survey. The blue wildebeest is also known as the Brindled Gnu. Wildebeest. Black Wildebeest are smaller, with horns curving forward and a long white tail, they are exclusively found on open grassland. They also provide important products, such as leather, to humans. The largest land mammal can be found there. The wildebeests, also called gnus or wildebai, are a. [62], This article is about the animal. The Blue Wildebeest is an often-overlooked animal on the vast African plains, and hardly features at all on the wish lists of safari goers. It belongs to the family Bovidae, which includes antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep, and other even-toed horned ungulates. The Savanna … Wildebeest females breed seasonally and ovulate spontaneously. C. taurinus has high shoulders sloping to lower hindquarters, a deep chest, a short… The wildebeest (/ˈwɪldɪbiːst/ WIL-dib-eest,[1][2][3] /ˈvɪl-/ VIL-,[3] /-dəb-/, plural wildebeest or wildebeests), also called the gnu (/njuː/ NEW or /nuː/ NOO),[4][5][6] is an antelope in the genus Connochaetes. They eat plants like: leaves, short young shoots, grass, flowers, shrubs, twigs and bark. The common wildebeest inhabits plains and acacia savanna ecosystems from southeastern Africa to central Kenya. Herds of nonterritorial bachelor males roam at will and do not seem to have any restrictions on where they wander. In the mid-20th century, two separate forms were recognised, Gorgon taurinus hecki and G. t. [41], Each year, some East African populations of blue wildebeest have a long-distance migration, seemingly timed to coincide with the annual pattern of rainfall and grass growth. Wildebeest. frontoffice@jabulanisafari.com, Copyright 2018 | All Rights Reserved | Digital Marketing Agency, The Making of a Birder at Jabulani – By Ranger Ruan Roos, “The Elephants Are My Tribe.” – Senior Elephant Carer, Stavros Chakoma Retires, Gin For All & All For Gin! Typically, the predators attempt to isolate a young or ill animal and attack without having to worry about the herd. In fact, the wildebeest is better described as a reliable source of food for the truly menacing predators of the African savanna: lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, and hyenas. One study showed, along with other ungulates, wildebeests responded more strongly to the baboon alarm calls compared to the baboon contest calls, though both types of calls had similar patterns, amplitudes, and durations. Spot Zebras and Gnus on your Safari in Madikwe In the female, all except a pair of very large submetacentric chromosomes were found to be acrocentric. The other is the black wildebeest. [40] During the rutting season, the males may form temporary territories for a few hours or a day or so, and attempt to gather together a few females with which to mate, but soon they have to move on, often moving ahead to set up another temporary territory. Where the black and blue wildebeest share a common range, the two can hybridise, and this is regarded as a potential threat to the black wildebeest. Lions are zebra’s main enemy but other animals like crocodiles and wildebeest can attack them too. This species is not found on. [39] In the Serengeti and Tarangire ecosystems, populations are mostly migratory, with herds consisting of both sexes frequently moving, but resident subpopulations also exist. The males defend these territories from other males while competing for females that are coming into oestrus. The wildebeest belongs to the family Bovidae and the tribe Alcelaphini. [50] This female-dominated sex ratio may be due to illegal hunting and human disturbance, with higher male mortality having been attributed to hunting. In favourable conditions, they may be as close as 9 m (30 ft), or they may be as far apart as 1,600 m (5,200 ft) in poor habitat. [35] In East Africa, the blue wildebeest is the most abundant big game species, both in population and biomass. in Hwange and Etosha National Parks to 35/km2 in Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park. Today we track and hunt a Wildebeest Stampede! This area is covered with Blue Wildebeest and Warthog's.