New from BBC Earth: Wildebeest calves are born


As one of the largest groups of wandering animals, you would have thought that when it comes to their young, they would be in trouble from the beginning. Alike many animals that reside on the Eastern African savannas, it’s a dog eat dog world…or more lion and hyena eats everyone else!

However these magnificent animals have an ingenious solution up their sleeves! Known as the “follower-calf” system, an incredible 80% of the Wildebeest females intuitively give birth within the same two to three week period. This synchronization reduces the probability of the tender young wildebeest to become prey to the predominant predator of the area, the hungry spotted hyaena.

And this is not the only technique these bovid (family of cloven-hoofed mammals!) have against this harsh nature of the Serengeti plains. They also choose to give birth in the middle of the herd, rather than straying away to find a secluded place – a clear example of there being power in numbers!


One response to “New from BBC Earth: Wildebeest calves are born”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *