Black Wildebeest

Description and Identification:

Shoulder height:                  Males                   1,2 m  

                                           Females                   1,15 m  

Body mass:                           Males                    160 kg

                                          Females                    130 kg

• Buffy brown – old males nearly Black
• Long white hair on tail
• Head is elongated with a high, upstanding mane on the neck
• A beard of long black hair
• Black heir on the top of the muzzle
• Both sexes have horns
• Horns sweep downward and forward to curve upwards

Social Behavior Black Gnu :

• Territorial males / female herds / bachelor groups
• Bulls – territorial all year round – slacken after rut
• Black Gnu bulls fight over territory
• Displaced bulls-join normally bachelor herd
• Only territorial bulls take part in rut
• Black Gnu bulls mark their territory with scent and gestures
• Female herd move freely between territories
• Female herds reunite when split during disturbance
• Cow with calf usually leads the herd
• Bachelor groups –reservoir for future territorial bulls (hence NB)
• Rest with head or hind quarters towards the sun
• Black Gnu snort- when alerted

Source:  J D Skinner and R H N Smithers: The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion;  Hunting School-Seminar Study Namiba