The annual migration of this awkward-looking antelope through Kenya and Tanzania drives a complex circle of life
the plaid cloth the Maasai traditionally wear as a cloak—to ward off the chill and drinking coffee out of a thermos with Ekai Ekalale, a Kenyan guide. We’re watching some wildebeests grazing in front of our Land Rover. They’re close enough that we can hear them chewing mouthfuls of grass. An hour before, we’d seen a pair of lionesses kill a buffalo calf, only to have a pack of hyenas steal it.
The result is a creature so weird but also so unassuming that when Dutch settlers first laid eyes on it, they gave it one of the least imaginative names in the animal lexicon, wild beast. So how did nature come up with this Frankenstein of the animal kingdom? But the most impressive wildebeest adaptation is its strategy for bringing the next generation into the world. Starting in late January, herds gather on the same plains Charlie and I flew over, when they’re still lush with grass fed by seasonal rains and the nutrient-rich volcanic soil. The wildebeest, unlike many other antelope species, doesn’t hide its young, and pregnant females give birth all at once out in the open.
The feat of accurately calculating the size of such a large migratory herd—before the use of satellites and other advanced technology—was impressive enough, but even more stunning was that this herd was the Serengeti’s wildebeest population. That was the prevailing dogma held by many scientists in Africa but also in places such as Yellowstone, he said. They believed wildlife populations needed to be manipulated to stay in balance. “They had to be controlled,” he told me, explaining this thinking. “Otherwise they would just go crazy and destroy everything.”
Sinclair realized the Serengeti was being transformed into a place that few, if any, living humans could remember. And the driver for this change was the humble wildebeest. At the time, the concept of a keystone species—an animal that was singularly crucial to the structure and health of an ecosystem—was relatively new. Until then, all the identified keystone species had been top predators. But in the Serengeti, the lion wasn’t king; its prey was.
Hopcraft and his team study wildebeest bones, especially femurs, the large bones in the upper hind legs. “One of the things we do is look at the bone marrow content,” he said, explaining that even after death it still holds the animal’s last reserve of fat. He explained that the females are either pregnant or nursing a calf year-round, and for four months, from June to September, they’re doing both, all while migrating, which puts huge energy demands on their bodies. “That makes them completely focused on consuming as much as possible of the most nutritious grasses until they’re gone,” he said.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Kenya to pay subsidy arrears as it looks to tackle fuel shortagesKenya's government will pay subsidy arrears to petrol retailers this week as it seeks to allay fears of potential fuel shortages and forestall a crisis, a senior government official said on Monday.
Les mer »
Schumer team privately admits Garcetti lacks votes to be India ambassadorSCOOP: Chuck Schumer’s team is privately acknowledging to Senate Dems that Eric Garcetti currently lacks the 50 votes within their caucus to be confirmed as India ambassador.
Les mer »
Hansen's Sunday Notebook: Tommy Lloyd accomplishes something not even Lute Olson could doFor Star subscribers: Greg Hansen explains how Tommy Lloyd could make history Sunday, why the NCAA transfer portal is affecting Arizona and others, and why it's time to disband the IARP.
Les mer »
For Spurs’ Manu Ginobili, Hall of Fame a deserved ending to unlikely careerFrom Bahia Blanca, Argentina to Springfield, Mass., Manu Ginobili’s Hall of Fame...
Les mer »
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Unlikely to Survive No-Confidence Vote, Minister SaysThe Pakistan National Assembly will begin to debate the no-confidence motion Imran Khan’s government at about 11.30am local time.
Les mer »
Chris Rock's Brother Tony Addresses Will Smith's Oscar SlapTony Rock slammed the 'King Richard' star for physically confronting his brother.
Les mer »