The Black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu ( Connochaetes gnou ) is one of two gnu species. The natural populations of this species is endemic to the southern region of Africa. They have been almost completely exterminated, but the species has been reintroduced widely, both in private areas and nature reserves throughout most of South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Namibia, and is also introduced outside its natural range. Black gnus, ranged the highveld temperate grasslands during the dry winter and the arid karroo during the rains. Black male wildebeest are darker brown to black in color than females. Both sexes become lighter in coat color in the summer, and develop shaggier coats in the winter. Black wildebeest has a mane that stands up from its neck, rather than draping across the neck, like that of the (Blue wildebeest) This bristly mane is cream to white in color and black at the tips. The beard is black in color and stretches only along the lower jaw, not the length of the neck, as with the (blue wildebeest). Male C. gnou stand 110 to 125cm high and can be up to 2mtr in length, females are slightly smaller. There paired horns curve down, forward, and then up, like hooks, and are up to 80 cm in length (slightly thinner and shorter in females). The base of the horns is widened and flattened to form a protective shield. These differ from the (Blue wildebeest) in that they project anteriorly, rather than laterally. Calving peaks are in November-December and are the same as with the Blue wildebeest 80-90% of all calves are dropped within the three week birth peak. Black wildebeest can live for 20 years. Like the (Blue wildebeest, C.taurinus), wild Connochaetes gnous were migratory in large herds. Black wildebeest were never studied in their natural habitat and interacting with natural predators, however they seem to be more aggressive than their wild cousins, and have attacked and killed keepers while in captivity. Indiscriminate hunting and restriction of the best fertile land for farming has reduced the population sizes but still it is a specie of least concern because of the large number of captive individuals.

In our webshop we have mounted Black Wildebeest for rent and sometimes for sale.

Texts are published by Wildlife Centre in 2007, if you mention the source you may use our texts and photographs. If you want to know more about Wildlife Centre and its background, you can read the about us page.