Wildebeest

[edit] Guide Note

The wildebeest or gnu is a mammal whose name comes from the South African Dutch word for "wild animal".¹ Although a member of the antelope family, the wildebeest more closely resembles the bovines, such as the ox or bison.²

[edit] Fast Facts

1. Habitat: Bushlands and grasslands³
2. Diet: Herbivorous²
3. Size: up to 4.5 ft²
4. Weight: 330 to 550 lbs²
5. Life span: average 20 years in the wild²
6. Endangered: No⁴
7. Predators: Cheetahs, hunting dogs, hyenas, lions⁵

The wildebeest has a large, box shaped head. They have sharp, curved horns, shaggy hair around the neck and pointed beards.² A wildebeest is gray or dark brown in color with black stripes, tails, manes and faces.³ Although heavily build in the front of their bodies, wildebeests support their weight on long, thin legs.⁵

The wildebeest is a territorial animal which travels in small herd while calves are young. Males stay with the females and calves for about a year before leaving to herd with other males. After about 4 years, the males become territorial.³ During dry periods the wildebeests move in herds towards water and scatter during the wet weather.¹

The large group of Serengeti wildebeests migrate each year, travelling 500 to 1000 miles. After reaching Lake Victoria the wildebeests head north into the Maasai Mara.⁵ The purpose of the migration is the search for forage and many wildebeests are killed swimming across the river.³