A young wildebeest's unexpected survival from a cheetah's attach. The wildebeest is an antelope of the genus Connochaetes. It is a hooved (ungulate) mammal. Wildebeest grow to 1.27 m to 1.47 m at the shoulder and weigh 120272 kg. They inhabit the plains and open woodlands of Africa, especially theSerengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tanzania, and Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. Wildebeest can live more than 20 years. Wildebeest are well known for their annual migration to new pastures. Many wild life documentaries have featured this event, in which vast numbers of wildebeest can be seen crossing rivers, such as the Mara River and dying in large numbers as they attempt to reach the other side, because many of them are eaten by crocodiles while others simply drown. Although it is commonly assumed that this is simply a frenzy and that the wildebeest cross blindly, recent research has shown that a herd of gnu possesses what is known as a "swarm intelligence", whereby the animals systematically explore and overcome the obstacle as one. Wildebeest have an apparent maximum running speed of around 64 km/h. The major predators that prey on Wildebeest are lions, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, and crocodiles. However, Wildebeest are very strong and can inflict considerable injury to even a lion.
6 мар 2010
