Mammals
Black Wildebeest
Connochaetes gnou · also called white-tailed gnu
Prancing and shaking its head in an energetic display of dominance, a black wildebeest carries a history far more precarious than its current numbers suggest, hunted nearly to extinction in the nineteenth century before recovering through protection on private South African land.
Overview
The black wildebeest, Connochaetes gnou, is a grassland antelope native to South Africa, historically reduced to extremely low numbers before recovering through dedicated conservation efforts. Its distinctive white tail, forward-curving horns, and dramatic recovery from near extinction in the wild make it one of the more conservation-significant antelope species found anywhere in southern Africa.
A recovery built on private land
Unlike many threatened large mammals saved through national parks alone, the black wildebeest’s recovery leaned heavily on protection across private farms and conservation areas, a somewhat different path back from the edge of extinction.
Status
Least Concern, having recovered substantially from near extinction in the wild during the nineteenth century.
Black Wildebeest: common questions
Did the black wildebeest almost go extinct?
Yes, this species was hunted heavily during the nineteenth century, reducing its wild population to extremely low numbers before conservation efforts, particularly protection on private farms and conservation areas, helped it recover.
How can you tell a black wildebeest from a blue wildebeest?
This species is smaller and darker in colour than the blue wildebeest, with forward-curving horns that differ from the blue wildebeest's more outward-sweeping horn shape, along with a distinctive white tail.
Why is the black wildebeest also called the white-tailed gnu?
This species has a distinctive white tail, a feature striking enough to give rise to one of its alternative common names, the white-tailed gnu.
What does the black wildebeest do during the breeding season?
This species performs energetic display behaviours during the breeding season, including vigorous head-shaking and prancing, used to establish dominance among competing males.