There are 2 species of wildebeest which are the Black Wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) and the Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), both are native to … – JabuGin for G&T & Elephant Lovers, A Soulful Safari for Kids at Jabulani with JabuJuniors. [44] Numerous documentaries feature wildebeest crossing rivers, with many being eaten by crocodiles or drowning in the attempt. [16] Female herds have home ranges of about 250 acres (100 ha; 0.39 sq mi) in size. Blue wildebeest tend to be a dark grey colour with stripes, but may have a bluish sheen. The Animals tend to migrate to across the savanna, Zebras, gazelles, and Wildebeest look for water while predators like Lions, Cheetahs, and Leopards follow those animals to prey on them, and scavengers as Hyenas and Vultures eat the left overs of the predators. Michael Flanders wrote a humorous song called "The Gnu", which was very popular when he performed it, with Donald Swann, in a revue called At the Drop of a Hat, which opened in London on 31 December 1956. Wildebeest are continually on the move as they seek favorable supplies of grass and water, and are active during both day and night. Description The Blue Wildebeest, also known as the Gnu, is an African bovid with broad shoulders, cow-like horns, and a broad muzzle. The herd of migrating antelopes goes on dusty savanna. They have broad muzzles, Roman noses, and shaggy manes and tails. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists both as least-concern species. So we have taken it upon ourselves today to share a few of the better qualities of this much maligned animal. Herd of wildebeest on the savanna in Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana royalty free stock video and stock footage. The Wildebeest belongs to the animals known as antelope. Its introduction into Namibia has been a success and numbers have increased substantially there from 150 in 1982 to 7,000 in 1992. [43], Aerial photography has revealed that a level of organisation occurs in the movement of the herd that cannot be apparent to each individual animal; for example, the migratory herd exhibits a wavy front, and this suggests that some degree of local decision-making is taking place. [25] The differences in social behaviour and habitats have historically prevented interspecific hybridisation between the species, but hybridisation may occur when they are both confined within the same area. We examined the landscape-level distribution of groups of blue wildebeest, Connochaetes taurinus, and Burchell's zebra, Equus burchelli, in a … [30] The milk of the female black wildebeest contains a higher protein, lower fat, and lower lactose content than the milk of the blue wildebeest. Tel: +27 (0) 15 793 1265 [15] Finally, two distinct types of wildebeest – the blue and black wildebeest – were identified. [16], Wildebeest benefit the ecosystem by increasing soil fertility with their excreta. Being out in the open obviously makes these two antelope species very vulnerable – therefore they are teaming up and are best buddies. The horns of blue wildebeest protrude to the side, then curve downwards before curving up back towards the skull, while the horns of the black wildebeest curve forward then downward before curving upwards at the tips. The blue wildebeest was at first placed under a separate genus, Gorgon,[16][17] while the black wildebeest belonged to the genus Connochaetes. [16] Wildebeest are killed for food, especially to make biltong in Southern Africa. They have a gray coat and a black mane as well as a beard that can be black or white. Blue Wildebeest facts – The blue wildebeests is one of the famous wild animals in both the Serengeti national park of Tanzania and in Maasai Mara national park of Kenya which is one of the main attractions which bring in a lot of people all over the world and it is so amazing during the wildebeest migration event in the above parks. Warthogs especially like to hang out in the central savanna. Females and young form groups of about 10 individuals or join together in larger aggregations, and nonterritorial males form bachelor groups. [34], The blue wildebeest has also been rated as of least concern. [28] It is a notable feature of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and the Liuwa Plain National Park in Zambia. The blue wildebeest is one of 2 species of wildebeest found on the African continent. – were identified migrations are closely followed by vultures, as they are economically important for human beings as! 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