THE blue wildebeest, or brindled gnu, is one of Africa’s most under-rated game animals. They are challenging to hunt and their reputation for toughness is legendary.
Latin Name: Connochaetes taurinus taurinus
Afrikaans name: Blouwildebees
Distribution
Widely distributed throughout central southern Africa and east Africa south of the equator, the blue wildebeest is one of the most abundant game animals in southern Africa and can now be found on game farms almost everywhere.
Habitat
Blue wildebeest are very adaptable. They are found in short-grass plains bordering bush-covered acacia savannah and thrive in areas that are neither too wet nor too arid.
Water is an essential habitat requirement – blue wildebeest will drink twice a day in summer and at least every second day or third day in cooler weather.
They are almost exclusively grazers, and prefer short grass. Wildebeest have strangely wide and square mouths, ideally suited for cropping short grass. They often end up grazing with Burchell’s zebra because both like short grass. In unrestricted wilderness areas, wilde-beest travel long distances to find fresh
