About the Author

Kirst Joscelyne

Ranger

At less than a year old, Kirst went to her family’s hut in the Greater Kruger National Park, and has been fortunate enough to continue to go there ever since. Sharing a passion for the bush with her family, led to countless trips ...

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21 Comments

on Wildebeest Are Anything But Stupid

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Amazing video. Lovely blog.

Two incredible wildebeest experiences: First was similar to the one you describe with wild dogs frequently charging the herd with the herd responding similarly. Second was experiencing the Great Migration in Tanzania, Relentless grunting of the thousands as they marched day and night.

Very interesting! I do like wildebeest and have always found them an interesting species to study. They are not stupid at all indeed! Do you kbow if white-tailed wildebeest still exist?

Great story! I actually like the looks of the Wildebeest!

Great story. Never thought they would hold off these predators

Kirst, thanks for the great story and education. It’s nice to see the wildebeest get some credit that they are due!

A really impressive video. Were the wildebeest able to defend their young ones or did the dogs catch one of them in the end? Life in the wilderness can be quite difficult, to put it politely.

Tracker Sersant tells a marvelous story about a Wildebeest, complete with sound effects. Get him to act it out for you!

What an incredible story about the wildebeest. They are not the most beautiful animal, but they are a force to be reckoned with, when defending their calves. Having those wild dogs and hyenas surrounding them must have been a gruelling site to see. Very glad they stood there ground and protected their young and themselves. Good story thanks Kirst.

Kirst, I loved all the photo

Thanks for the post on Wildebeests Kirst! I live the way you set up the premise that they are “stupid,” only to tear it down by their obvious natural intelligence. As an aside, I think their crazy “look” is actually pretty cool. Almost an abstract artist’s rendition of a cow mixed with an antelope – Picasso-esque, perhaps!!

Yes, definitely not a good looking animal but they always seemed to work as a team protecting their newborns. The collective noun for wildebeests is one we would never guess and seems a stretch-even stranger than a murder of crows. Good article.

Senior Digital Ranger

Firstly, I must say … I do not find Wildebeest unattractive. They have a very unique beauty
And so happy to know they are also quite intelligent! Another amazing creation!

Kirst really enjoyed this account and the background to the Gnu!!💕 It is so true that we look at them as being rather dull animals and I now have a deep respect for their tenacity after watching your footage. Fantastic 👌🙏💕

Amazing video – how long did this go on for, and which gave up first, the wild dogs or the hyenas? Kirst, I can see with your writing skills you’re going to be a regular blog poster!

Senior Digital Ranger

Very interesting blog thank you.

Appearances often color opinions that are often totally wrong.

Wonderful story……all animals in the wild are as intelligent as they need to be to survive in their environment….we cannot measure their intelligence based on human ideals of intelligence!

I have heard wildebeest being described as the ‘clowns of the bushveld’, so this post is definitely a nice change of pace. They are without a doubt an enormously successful species.

Thanks for highlighting the antelope on Londolozi. A lot of people would enjoy more of the same. Kudu. Waterbuck. Nyala, ect. just saying there’s more to the reserve than predators.

Incredible to see them protect that baby against all the odds! What a sight that must have been!

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