 The
wildebeest roams the open grasslands of South Africa in large herds of up to 50.
It always remains close to water supplies, grazing in the morning and late afternoon, and
resting in the hot sun in between. The head of the wildebeest is large and box-like. Both
males and females have curving horns, that are close together at the base, but curve
outward, inward and slightly backward. The body looks disproportionate, as the front end
is heavily built, the hindquarters slender and the legs spindly. The wildebeest is gray
with darker vertical stripes that look almost black from a distance.
Size: Stands 50 to 58 inches at the shoulder; weigh between 300 and 400 pounds.
Lifespan: Approximately 20 years.
Diet: Strictly grazers, wildebeest prefer short grass. They are unable to go
without water for more than a few days.
Breeding: Females give birth to one calf at a time
Socialisation: Wildebeest are continually on the move as they look for supplies
of grass and water. Active both day and night, they have a tendency to string out in long
single columns when on the move. They cover long distances at a slow rocking gallop but
can run fast when necessary.
During mating season smaller breeding groups of about 150 animals form within the massive
herds. In these small groups, five or six of the most active bulls establish and defend
territories that females wander through. The bulls perform antics, galloping and bucking
around their territories. They paw the ground and rub their heads on it, spreading
secretions. They also urinate and daefecate in a certain spot and toll in it to signal to
other bulls to stay away
Predators: Large cats, hyenas and wild dogs.
See Wildebeest at Game Reserves and Game Lodges in:
Eastern
Cape · Limpopo · North
West · Mpumalanga · Gauteng
· Free
State
KwaZulu
Natal · Western Cape · Garden
Route · Northern Cape · Namibia
· Botswana
|