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Barry Bath

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Barry grew up in Johannesburg and knew from a young age that he had a true love for the African bush yet it was only after spending several years in the corporate world in Europe, followed by a two year sabbatical of traveling ...

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10 Comments

on Stripes and Hooves: The Intertwinded Fate of Zebra and Wildebeest

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It is fascinating to witness the interaction of the many herds and groups of animals. Thanks for your insights Sean.

Thanks Barry for this article that validated my observations on these two species. Most of the time when driving through the savanna, you can see these animals together but grazing in different areas, and now that you highlighted their preferences in the grass they eat, it makes sense. The only other animal that might complete the scene is a few giraffes, if there are some trees around – that’s truly magical.

Thanks for this interesting blog, Barry, and the beautiful photos.

Great article. I never knew that their diets and senses complimented each other.

Very interesting post Barry! Thanks for highlighting the synergies between the wildebeest and zebra. Their differences are also their strengths, and complement each other in ways that are mutually beneficial!

Hi, this interesting blog digs into the relationship of the main characters of the Great Migration. I think it’s one of the most sought after natural show, although I don’t like to see so many animals dying, it is a natural process. Also in Botswana there’s a very old and long Migration of zebras, followed in some traits by wildebeest, that is not so famous but equally important. Those animals are such super resilient creatures, I strongly advise to watch both, in the second they reach the Boteti River after the attacks of lions, hyenas, wild dogs along all their route. The Jouberts documentary is an older one, but you will hold your breath until the last minute. Really awesome creatures

Ps on the wildebeest front, I’ve just seen again Survivor, a fantastic documentary film on a wildebeest calf and all the dangerous travel she and her mother endured. Those creature in herself is a real miracle, her mum is exceptional and she is such a character! Among all, she survives the Great Migration

Good foto’s thanks Barry and interesting to learn more about the herbivores habits. Not only do they eat the same food, but also look out for each other while browsing together. Safety in numbers.

Thanks for the great article.
Just a question, is this not the other way around? “Furthermore, wildebeest and zebra have different feeding behaviours that complement each other. Zebras are known for their selective grazing, where they are able to pick out the best and most nutritious grasses. Wildebeest, on the other hand, are bulk grazers that consume large quantities of grass indiscriminately. This means that they are able to graze on the tougher and less nutritious grasses that zebras may leave behind.”

Hi Jakes, you’re completely right I switched the two when writing. I’ve updated it to be a bit clearer.

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