ADULT
Sex Shoulder-height (m) Mass (kg) Diet
Male 1.3 - 1.5 210 - 260 Grass
Female 1.22 - 1.35 170 - 200 Grass
Gestation Period
8.5 months (250 - 255 days)
YOUNG
Sex Birth season Birth weight Weaning Sexually mature First mating
Male Nov-Jan, May 22kg 8 months 36 months 4.5 - 5.5 years
Female Nov-Jan, May 22kg 8 months 18-27 months 2.5
Identification: Cattle like animal – face, mane and horse’s tail are black. Dark vertical stripes on the neck and
flanks. Both males and females have horns but male horns are heavier, mature bull with black forehead.
Habitat: Open savannah especially thorn and tamboti woodland. Prefers short grass plains in valleys and
floodplains. Depend on water.
Usually form herds of between 20 and 30 animals. There are female and bachelor herds as well as territorial
males with female herds forming the closest association. Grazes when is cool and rests during the hottest part
of the day in the shade. Settled in certain areas but migrates seasonally to other areas forming large herds
numbering thousands.
Food: Mainly short grass sometimes barks and leaves
Vocalization: Snorts, bellows and grunts. Small ones bleat, young ones makes a ‘hunn’ sound.
Breeding: One (occasionally two ) calves born from November to February after a gestation period of ± 8
months.
Age: ± 20 years
Close relatives: Black Wildebeest or white tail gnu (Connochaetes gnou) White bearded gnu (Connochaetes
tauinus albojubatus) and the Nyassaland gnu (Connochaetes taurinus johnstoni)
Blue wildebeest colour variations are (Connochaetes taurinus taurinus)
1. CHEMICAL IMMOBILIZATION (Preferred cocktail)
Age
Thianil mg
Etorphine
mg
Azaperone
Midazolan
Hyaluronidase
Calf 0.5 0.5 10 25 Young 1 1 30 50 Sub Adult 1.5 1.5 40 100 Cow 1.75 1.75 50 100 Add1000 IU for helicopter
capture or telemetry
Bull 2 2 50 100 Add1000 IU for helicopter
capture or telemetry
Bull 2 2 100 Procedures without
Azaperone (sperm
collection)
10
2018
NOVEMBER
5