Blue wildebeest migrate through the Serengeti plains of Tanzania
Roughly 1.5 million blue wildebeest roam the grasslands of southern Africa and up the eastern coast into Kenya. It is the herds in East Africa that undertake a lengthy migratory trip each year, crossing international borders in pursuit of the short grasses they feed on. Known as the great migration, massive wildebeest herds, along with huge numbers of zebras and gazelles, travel to follow the seasonal rains. After the rainy season ends in Tanzania, the wildebeest migrate north to Kenya for fresh grass, eventually making their way back down to the Serengeti to start the cycle over again.
The blue wildebeest is known to have five subspecies. This broad-shouldered antelope has a muscular, front-heavy appearance, with a distinctive, robust muzzle. Young blue wildebeest are born tawny brown, and begin to take on their adult coloration at the age of 2 months. The adults' hues range from a deep slate or bluish-gray to light gray or even grayish-brown.
The black wildebeest, or white-tailed gnu (C. gnou), is a much smaller animal (110–147 kg [240–323 pounds], 106–121 cm [42–48 inches]) and is dark brown to black with a conspicuous white tail, prominent beard, facial tufts, and upright mane. Its curved horns point forward, are 45–78 cm (18–31 inches) long, and are exceptionally dangerous. It was once one of the dominant herbivores of the South African Highveld and Karoo, along with the blesbok, springbok, and now-extinct quagga, but it was hunted nearly to extinction in the late 19th century. However, it slowly recovered, and at the end of the 20th century it numbered around 20,000, though nearly all of these were found on private ranches.
Relationship with humans
Taxidermied Lion and Blue Wildebeest, Namibia
As one of the major herbivores of southern and eastern Africa, the blue wildebeest plays an important role in the ecosystem, and is the main prey item for large predators such as the lion. It is one of the animals that draw tourists to the area to observe big game, and as such, it is of major economic importance to the region. Traditionally, blue wildebeest have been hunted for their hides and meat, the skin making good-quality leather, though the flesh is coarse, dry, and rather tough. However, blue wildebeest can also affect human beings negatively. They can compete with domestic livestock for grazing and water and can transmit fatal diseases like rinderpest to cattle and cause epidemics among animals. They can also spread ticks, lungworms, tapeworms, flies and paramphistome flukes. An ancient carved slab of slate depicting an animal very similar to the blue wildebeest has been discovered. Dating back to around 3000 BC, it was found in Hierakonopolis (Nekhen), which used to be the religious and political capital of Upper Egypt at that time. This may be evidence that the animal used to occur in North Africa and was associated with the ancient Egyptian
Subspecies
Five different subspecies are recognized. The blue wildebeest, or brindled gnu (C. taurinus taurinus), of southern Africa is the largest, weighing 230–275 kg (510–605 pounds) and standing 140–152 cm (55–60 inches) tall. The western white-bearded wildebeest (C. taurinus mearnsi) is the smallest, 50 kg (110 pounds) lighter and 10 cm (4 inches) shorter than C. taurinus . It is also the most numerous; more than one million inhabit the Serengeti Plains and acacia savanna of northwestern Tanzania and adjacent Kenya, the only remaining intact ecosystem within the species’s range.
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