Wildebeest is Dutch for "wild beast" or "wild cattle" in Afrikaans (bees "cattle"), while Connochaetes derives from the Greek words κόννος, kónnos, "beard",[8] and χαίτη, khaítē, "flowing hair", "mane". The hide makes good-quality leather and the flesh is coarse, dry and rather hard. Wildebeest provide several useful animal products. [20] The earliest fossils of the black wildebeest were found in sedimentary rock in Cornelia in the Orange Free State and dated back about 800,000 years. In one of the more striking examples of the consequences of fence-building on terrestrial migrations, Botswanan authorities placed thousands of kilometres of fences across the Kalahari that prevented wildebeests from reaching watering holes and grazing grounds, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of individuals, reducing the wildebeest population to less than 10% of its previous size. It is one of the greatest sights on planet Earth - the annual stampede of one million wildebeest from Tanzania to Kenya. The blue wildebeest lives in a wide variety of habitats, including woodlands and grasslands, while the black wildebeest tends to reside exclusively in open grassland areas. [48] In the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania, wildebeest may help facilitate the migration of other, smaller-bodied grazers, such as Thomson's gazelles (Eudorcas thomsonii), which eat the new-growth grasses stimulated by wildebeest foraging. [39], In the Maasai Mara game reserve, a non-migratory population of blue wildebeest had dwindled from about 119,000 animals in 1977 to about 22,000 in 1997. While having the appearance of a frenzy, recent research has shown a herd of wildebeest possesses what is known as a "swarm intelligence", whereby the animals systematically explore and overcome the obstacle as one. [52], Wildebeest do not form permanent pair bonds and during the mating season, or rut, the males establish temporary territories and try to attract females into them. [35] In East Africa, the blue wildebeest is the most abundant big game species, both in population and biomass. Unlike the other characters of the film, they appear a little more than just non-communicative animals. Females and young form groups of about 10 individuals or join together in larger aggregations, and nonterritorial males form bachelor groups. [32], Wildebeest inhabit the plains and open woodlands of parts of Africa south of the Sahara. [46][47] The primary defensive tactic is herding, where the young animals are protected by the older, larger ones, while the herd runs as a group. Theresa May livid as Gove addresses Brexit security fears, Ireland Taoiseach orders full national lockdown for six weeks, Manchester: Govt threatens Tier 3 if agreement not reached by noon, SAGE expert predicts tough Christmas but optimistic about vaccine. The comments below have not been moderated. [15], The wildebeest is depicted on the coat of arms of the Province of Natal and later KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Elsewhere in South Africa, they are plentiful at such sites as Elandsfontein, Cornelia, and Florisbad. [42] The timing of their migrations in both the rainy and dry seasons can vary considerably (by months) from year to year. Wildebeest have developed additional sophisticated cooperative behaviours, such as animals taking turns sleeping while others stand guard against a night attack by invading predators. [40] Population density ranges from 0.15/km2. [9][10] Some sources claim the name "gnu" originates from the Khoekhoe name for these animals, t'gnu. Wildebeest have a maximum running speed of around 80 km/h (50 mph). [26] Another study reported an increase in the size of the hybrid as compared to either of its parents. [15], In the early 20th century, one species of the wildebeest, C. albojubatus, was identified in eastern Africa. Blue wildebeest are mainly found in short grass plains bordering bush-covered acacia savannas, thriving in areas that are neither too wet nor too dry. For other uses, see, "Gnu" redirects here. Wildebeest often graze in mixed herds with zebra, which gives heightened awareness of potential predators. [43], Aerial photography has revealed that a level of organisation occurs in the movement of the herd that cannot be apparent to each individual animal; for example, the migratory herd exhibits a wavy front, and this suggests that some degree of local decision-making is taking place. Wildebeest usually breed at the end of the rainy season when the animals are well fed and at their peak of fitness. Now, more than 18,000 individuals are believed to remain, 7,000 of which are in Namibia, outside their natural range, and where it is farmed. The most obvious way of telling the two species apart are the differences in their colouring and in the way their horns are oriented.[7]. [32] Wildebeest, however, are very strong, and can inflict considerable injury even to a lion. The most acute threat comes from migration barriers, such as fences and roads. [citation needed] However, the numbers of one of the subspecies, the eastern white-bearded wildebeest (C. t. albojubatus) have seen a steep decline. 'At this time of year more than one million wildebeest are crossing the border between Tanzania and Kenya in one of the most spectacular scenes of migration on Earth,' said 49-year-old Paolo. Making a splash: Wildebeest leap into the waters of the Mara River during their migration over the border between Tanzania and Kenya. [13][14], Dutch settlers first discovered wildebeest in about 1700, on their way to the interior of South Africa. The meat of females is more tender than that of males, and is the most tender during the autumn season. [41], Each year, some East African populations of blue wildebeest have a long-distance migration, seemingly timed to coincide with the annual pattern of rainfall and grass growth. Michael Flanders wrote a humorous song called "The Gnu", which was very popular when he performed it, with Donald Swann, in a revue called At the Drop of a Hat, which opened in London on 31 December 1956.