All information about the wildebeest

The wildebeest

The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a species of antelope and belongs to the large family of cave horned animals (Bovidae). This large family consists of eight subfamilies including the family of cow antelopes (Alcelaphinae). This subfamily includes the blue wildebeest. The cow antelope family in turn can be divided into four genera with different species. The blue wildebeest is divided into five subspecies.

Subfamily: Alcelaphinae

• Alcelaphus

  • Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus)

• Beatragus

  • Hirola (Beatragus hunteri)

• Connochaetes

  • Connochaetes gnou

    • White-tailed wildebeest

  • Connochaetes taurinus

    • Blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus taurinus)

    • Western white-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi)

    • Eastern white-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus)

    • Nyasaa wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus johnstoni)

    • Cookson wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus cooksoni)

• Damaliscus

  • Topi (Damaliscus lunatus)

  • Blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus)

In Safaripark Beekse Bergen the blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus taurinus) can be found.

What does a wildebeest look like?

Of course, the blue wildebeest is not really blue in color as its name suggests. The animal has silver-gray to gray-brown fur with black mane and distinctive vertical black stripes on the shoulders. In animal science, animals with a grayish color are more often given blue in their names. Consider, for example, the blue whale or the blue heron. These animals are not all blue either, but a little gray in color. This is also true of the blue wildebeest. Furthermore, it has a large head and a long snout. Both males and females have two horns on their heads. These are curved inward and are thicker in males than in females. The first year the horns grow almost straight up. As the young grow older, a curve develops as one side of the horn grows faster than the other.

Each individual wildebeest is slightly different. Animal keepers can recognize the wildebeest individually. Ranger Rick takes you to the blue wildebeest and shows you the differences. Can you see the differences?

How much does a blue wildebeest weigh?

A blue wildebeest weighs between 120 and 270 pounds. Males are larger and heavier than females.

Does a blue wildebeest live in a herd?

The blue wildebeest is a herd animal and are known to migrate widely. They migrate, meaning move around, or stay in a fixed location depending on the food supply. A herd consists of about eight females with their young. The adult males wander between herds. When the animals begin to migrate, herds can form of up to hundreds of animals that migrate together through the habitat. In the wild, blue wildebeest are often seen grazing together with zebras.

What is blue wildebeest habitat?

Blue wildebeest are widely distributed in eastern and southern South Africa, from Kenya to eastern Namibia. They live there on grasslands, as well as acacia savannas, bush savannas and open woodlands.

Why does a blue wildebeest migrate to another area?

Wildebeest migrate or stay in a fixed location. This depends on how much food is available. In times of little food in the dry seasons, thousands of wildebeest move on to the next area in search of food. They then form large herds containing smaller herds. This is also called the great migration. This great migration consists mainly of wildebeest, but zebras and various species of antelope also join in.

What does a blue wildebeest eat?

The blue wildebeest is a real grazer. They mainly eat a variety of grasses. If there is little grass to be found, they will also eat the leaves of bushes. Wildebeest eat during the day and night. They can often be found with zebras while grazing. This is because zebras are able to eat the long grass and so the wildebeest can eat the short grass. A wildebeest depends on water and therefore will often be found near puddles of water.

How old does a blue wildebeest get?

A blue wildebeest lives to be about seventeen to twenty years old. In the wild, young animals are especially vulnerable to predators. The oldest wildebeest in a zoo lived to be 24 years old.

How does a wildebeest reproduce?

Blue wildebeest give birth to young once a year and the mating season lasts three weeks. This begins after the rainy season because there is plenty of food to be found then. The gestation period is about eight to 8.5 months. One young is born per litter. A young wildebeest is called a calf. These calves are born in a baby boom. The calf weighs about nineteen pounds at birth and can stand within ten minutes of delivery. The mother recognizes her calf by its smell. When the calf is about eight months, it leaves its mother and then forms a subgroup within the herd with the other calves.

Baby boom

Almost all calves are born in a three-week period. Those newborn calves are easy prey for predators. Fortunately, predators can only eat a limited amount of meat per day. This leaves more calves than if they were born scattered throughout the year. When calves are a little older, they have a better chance of escaping predators.

What kind of sound does a wildebeest make?

Wildebeest communicate with each other through sound, smell and postures. The bellowing sound of a male can be heard as far as two kilometers away! The calf can make a bleating sound somewhat similar to the sound of a lamb. The female not only recognizes her young by the sound, but also by its scent. Because the herd secretes scent, the animals can track each other and stay in touch within the herd.

Is a wildebeest endangered?

The blue wildebeest has "safe" status on the IUCN Red List. Despite that status, there are still threats to the wildebeest. For example, their habitat is disappearing due to cattle ranching and they are widely hunted for meat. The biggest problem is the blocking of migration routes. This is due to fences, villages and roads that people build.

The wildebeest's natural enemies are hyenas, lions, cheetahs and African wild dogs. Prolonged drought can also be a threat to the wildebeest.

Conservation

Fortunately, the status of the blue wildebeest is safe. But unfortunately, many of the species you see in our park are endangered and struggling in their native habitats. Did you know that worldwide more than 4,000 animal species threatened with extinction are endangered? Together we can help them, with big, or small steps. Want to know how? Then click here.

Come see the blue wildebeest in real life!