If you happen to encounter these wild animals, many would be surprised because they have the head of a bull, horns like a bull, and a tail like a horse (the end of the tail features a long tuft of black fur), with a heavy appearance. They are neither wild bulls nor wild horses; despite their seemingly “fearsome” appearance, they actually belong to the antelope family.
As you approach, these “frightening” creatures will panic and run away from humans. These “bull-headed” animals are gentle and timid, solely focused on grazing. They become true “clowns” whenever they are frightened.
Both day and night, they remain vigilant and always ready to… run. During the dry season, herds of wildebeest, numbering in the thousands, can be seen heading towards areas with drinking water. In the rainy season, larger herds tend to disperse and form smaller groups for the remainder of the year. They also frequently move to areas where grass grows after rainfall.
Regarding “mates,” wildebeests are famous throughout… Africa. During mating season, herds of about 150 wildebeests can be seen, but typically only one male. Nevertheless, these males find ways to “court” the passing females.
Males who lack the ability to “woo” females gather together to form “bachelor” herds, wandering along their “lonely roads.”
After a gestation period of 8 to 9 months, females give birth to a calf around February or March. Within 30 minutes of being born, the calf can stand and run back and forth—this skill is crucial for them to avoid becoming prey for lions, leopards, and wild dogs.
Each female wildebeest typically gives birth to one calf, and each year, the females in the herd tend to give birth at the same time. Countless young wildebeests are born just days apart. As a result, even though lions, leopards, and wild dogs consume a significant number of these young calves, they cannot completely deplete the future generation of wildebeests. Once the young wildebeests grow a bit more, they can run fast enough to evade predators and preserve their lineage.
The scientific name is Connochaetes taurinus. An adult male measures about 2.4 meters in length, weighs around 275 kilograms, and stands about 1.2 meters tall. Females are slightly smaller than males. Both possess curved horns. Their distribution extends from southern Kenya to the entire southern region of Africa.
