Blue / Brindled Gnu

BLUE WILDEBEEST/BRINDLED GNU Connochaetes taurinus Five races: blue C.t.taurinus; white-bearded C.t.mearnsi & albojubatus; Cookson’s C.t.cooksoni; Johnston’s C.t.johnstoni German: Streifengnu Breeding French: Gnou à queue noire Mating season: Strongly seasonal; births usually all within 2 – 3 weeks; Spanish: Ñu taurino o listado births November – January; () January – February Measurements Total length: 2,4 – 3,3 m (7.9‘ – 10.8‘) Gestation: 250 days

Tail: 45 – 100 cm (17.7” – 39.4”) Number of young: 1

Shoulder Height: Male 1,5 m (4.9‘) Birth weight: 22 kg (48.5 lb) Female 1,3 m (4.3‘) Sexual maturity: Female breeds in second or third year

Weight: Male 250 kg (551 lb) Longevity: One captive 21 years 5 months Female 180 kg (397 lb) Western white-bearded wildebeest

Eastern white-bearded wildebeest the /Tanzania border. All races are Johnston’s wildebeest huntable across most range states, with Cookson’s wildebeest

the exception of Kenya. Blue wildebeest Conservation standing Blue wildebeest historical All races occur in substantial numbers and are considered secure. The western white-bearded numbers fluctuate but are usually >1 million individuals and there are well over 100,000 southern blue. Lowest numbers are the restricted range Cookson’s with about 12,000. Right front, 100 mm (3.9”) Right back, 100 mm (3.9”) Habitats Open and savanna .

Behaviour Most herds rarely number more than Description 30 , but much larger migratory Five races are recognised, but all differ groupings come together seasonally, such in the detail. All characterised by as in the Serengeti/Mara. Even in these relatively light hindquarters, heavier vast gatherings integrity of the small forequarters with hump-like appearance herds is generally maintained. Territorial of shoulders. Longish head terminating bulls defend a zone around their cows, in a broad snout, black mane down neck even when on the move; land as such to shoulders, and long black tail. Both is not defended. A territorial bull may Shot placement sexes carry horns, those of cows lighter, control between 2 – 150 cows with their that form boss (horns not joined) and accompanying young but cows may grow outwards, turn sharply up and then move through the “territories” of more inwards (shallow W). The southern blue than one bull and be mated by several. has black throat mane, Cookson’s which Outside the rut cow herds move freely overall is more brownish also with black and are not herded by the bulls. Bachelor throat mane, Johnston’s, or Nyasa, has a herds circulating around the edge of the white chevron between the eyes, and the main herd/s during the rut, but at other western and eastern white-bearded on times mix freely. Mainly day active. either side of the Great Rift Valley have white to off-white throat fringes. Food Grass-eaters. Distribution Only the southern blue has a wide Rifles and Ammunition distribution, Cookson’s is only found Suggested Calibre: .308 - 9,3 mm. in ’s Luangwa Valley, Johnston’s Bullet: Expanding bullet designed for penetration. straddling the Tanzania/ Sights: Medium-range variable scope. border and the white-bearded’s along Hunting Conditions: Expect medium-range shots in mixed cover.

175 Blue Wildebeest/ Brindled Gnu

Johnston’s, or Nyasa, Wildebeest Cookson’s Wildebeest White-bearded Wildebeest

Cookson’s Wildebeest showing browner legs; Luangwa Valley White-bearded Wildebeest in Maasai-Mara, Kenya Photo: G.& M. von Hasseln G.& M. von Photo:

A fine White-bearded Wildebeest shot in northern Tanzania Cows and calves of Blue Wildebeest in uMkuze, KwaZulu-Natal

174 Game Animals of the World