Mammals
Blue wildebeest
Connochaetes taurinus
The blue wildebeest is a sturdy antelope with a massive head and dark stripes on its flanks. It is the star of the greatest land-mammal migration on Earth.
In short
The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a species with IUCN conservation status LC (Least concern). It inhabits grassy plains and open savanna. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: request the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the blue wildebeest live?
It inhabits grassy plains and open savanna. Each year over a million wildebeest make a circular journey of hundreds of kilometres between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara, following the rains and fresh grazing and crossing crocodile-infested rivers.
Is the blue wildebeest endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern (LC) with a stable population sustained by large protected areas. Outside them it declines due to fencing, hunting and drought.
Facts about the blue wildebeest
- It undertakes the greatest land-mammal migration on Earth.
- Calves can run within minutes of being born.
- It often migrates alongside zebras, sharing grazing.
Data source: IUCN Red List — Connochaetes taurinus (Least Concern)
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.