The world of fauna is diverse and beautiful. One of its representatives is the wildebeest. This animal is an important component of the ecological and food chain.
What does gnu mean?The definition of the species is a herbivore ruminant, belonging to the order of the artiodactyls, the family of bovids. Black and blue species live in nature. This is the most common type of antelope. In the reserves, there are representatives of white-tailed wildebeest.
The body of the animal is disproportionate, the body is similar to the body of a horse, and the structure of the skull resembles a bull's head. The legs are long and thin.
It has a large, wide nose, small eyes and ears. Horns of medium length, very sharp, elongated and curved upwards. At the base they are thicker than at the ends.
The wildebeest's colors are gray and brown, with black transverse stripes. The mane and tail are rather long, dark gray or black in color.
The height of the animal at the withers reaches 1.5 meters, weight - up to 300 kilograms. Despite the many threats that lie in wait for the antelope, life expectancy can be more than twenty years.
Gnu - very fast animals, able to develop a great speed - up to 70 kilometers per hour.
They are curious. Close to the subject of interest to study them, but at the same time very shy.
The wildebeest's habitat is the savanna of South and East Africa. Animals form a dense herd of many thousands grazing on steppes and plains.
Already figured out what a wildebeest.The definition of a herd in which an animal lives is this: a herd of antelopes is huge, so they have to migrate twice a year, in spring and autumn, after the rainy season. In search of juicy and fresh grass, it wanders from one place to another.
Unfortunately, such movements are not without victims. Some animals can be trampled by congeners.
The antelope breeding period does not have a clear time frame, but it often happens in spring and summer.
Males fight for females, attacking each othersharp horns. At the same time, opponents are trying to get into the most vulnerable place - the neck. In such fights, animals are measured by forces, it does not reach bloodshed. A strong and experienced male wildebeest receives a group of ten or more females. The weakest get only one or two.
The female bears a cub a little more than eightmonths, after which one is born, rarely two babies. Capable of independent movement, five minutes after birth, like many herbivores and artiodactyls. It is fed with milk, but also starts to eat grass quite early.
The wildebeest is a herbivore mammalanimal. In search of plentifully covered with fresh grass, the plains can travel long distances. In the food selective, use certain varieties of herbs. Rarely, during a shortage of food, leaves of shrubs serve as food.
These animals always keep near ponds,they love fresh water. In the reservoirs they can spend hours relaxing, playing with each other, taking mud baths. They also need to drink plenty of water. Therefore, they never go long distances from sources.
Во время кочевых переходов животным часто need to cross the river. Often the path of a wildebeest goes along the same road. Therefore, in places near rivers, ravines are formed that make it difficult to cross them. The danger is that the antelope has to jump from a height into the water, out of it along a steep bank. Some animals can not cope with such a test. The situation is complicated by the fact that the antelope in search of grass is already quite exhausted.
At the reservoirs waiting for them another enemy, thiscrocodiles. Predatory reptiles attack wildebeest while quenching their thirst or crossing a river. A crocodile is capable of grabbing a wildebeest with its huge mouth with a death grip from which it is almost impossible to get out.
Such predatory animals as lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas are also enemies of the antelope.
As a rule, lions hunt for adult herbivores, one at a time or as a whole pride. Cheetahs, leopards and hyenas choose wildebeest babies.
Happy to catch the antelope is difficult, as theyable to defend with sharp horns and hooves, to protect each other, their children, or escape, just quickly ran away. Therefore, predators attack them at night. At this time, the antelopes are fearful and defenseless, a panic is created in the herd, a crush in which individuals can die. Especially defenseless kids in such a situation.
Another danger for antelope is localresidents and poachers who hunt animals with traps and shotguns. Meat and skin of wildebeest is highly valued. Local authorities are forced to protect animals legally.
All these facts fully disclose the answer to the question of whether a wildebeest is an antelope or not.
These amazing animals have a unique body composition and an interesting way of life, being an important link in the nature of Africa.
