Black Wildebeest

The black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu is one of the two closely related wildebeest species. It is a member of the genus Connochaetes and family Bovidae. It was first described in 1780 by Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann. Black wildebeest were never studied in their natural habitat, interacting with natural predators, however they seem to be more aggressive than their wild cousins, and have attacked and killed keepers while in captivity. The largest existing herd numbers 330 head at Willem Pretorius Game Reserve, Orange Free State. In the wild, black wildebeest can live up to 22 years. Mating is in March to April and calves are born from November till January, depending on where they occur. The gestation period is 8.5 months, after which the female gives birth to a single calf that are able to follow its mother within minutes of birth. According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Black wildebeest is more than 18,000 individuals (with over 11,000 individuals in their natural range and over 7,000 individuals on farmlands in Namibia). Black wildebeest are predominantly grazers, preferring short grasses, but also feeding on other herbs and shrubs, especially when grass is scarce. Shrubs can comprise as much as 37% of the diet, but grasses normally form more than 90%. Water is essential, though they can exist without drinking water every day. However, thanks to the successful implementation of conservation strategies, more than 18,000 black wildebeest occur throughout Southern Africa today, ranking them as 'Least Concerned' by the IUCN, with their population continuously increasing

Gestation period: 257 days 

Mass: 290 lbs (Adult) 

Scientific name: Connochaetes gnou

Trophic level: Herbivorous 

Conservation status: Least Concern (Population increasing) 

Nickname: the white-tailed gnu 

Family: Bovidae