Blue Wildebeest (bubblywums & LeafProductions)

## Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes gnou

Easy

The **Blue Wildebeest** (*Connochaetes gnou*) is a large African antelope available for download in *Planet Zoo*.

## Mod Credits

* **Model and Textures:** bubblywums
* **Porting and Zoopedia:** LeafProductions

## Zoopedia Description

### General

Population in the Wild: 1,550,000

The blue wildebeest was first described by English naturalist William John Burchell in 1824 and he gave it the scientific name Connochaetes taurinus. It shares the genus Connochaetes with the black wildebeest (C. gnou), and is placed in the family Bovidae, ruminant animals with cloven hooves. The generic name Connochaetes derives from the Greek words κόννος, kónnos, "beard", and χαίτη, khaítē, "flowing hair", "mane". The specific name taurinus originates from the Greek word tauros, which means a bull or bullock. The common name "blue wildebeest" refers to the conspicuous, silvery-blue sheen of the coat, while the alternative name "gnu" originates from the name for these animals used by the Khoikhoi people, a native pastoralist people of southwestern Africa.

### Social

The wildebeest usually rest close to others of their kind and move about in loose aggregations. Males form bachelor herds, and these can be distinguished from juvenile groups by the lower amount of activity and the spacing between the animals. Around 90% of the male calves join the bachelor herds before the next mating season. Bulls become territorial at the age of four or five years, and become very noisy (most notably in the western white-bearded wildebeest) and active. The bulls tolerate being close to each other and one square kilometre (0.39 sq mi) of plain can accommodate 270 bulls. Most territories are of a temporary nature and fewer than half of the male population hold permanent territories.

### Reproduction

Male blue wildebeest become sexually mature at about 2 years of age, while females can conceive at 16 months if adequately nourished. Nevertheless, most females do not start to breed until a year later. The mating season, which lasts for about 3 weeks, coincides with the end of the rainy season. This means that the animals are in good condition, having been feeding on highly nutritious new grass growth, and the conception rate is often as high as 95%. The mating season, or rut, typically begins on the night of a full moon, suggesting that the lunar cycle influences breeding. At this time, testosterone production peaks in males, resulting in increased calling and territorial behavior. The activities of these sexually excited males may also stimulate the female to come into estrus.

## Preferred Objects

### Food Tiers

* Hay
* Herbivore Pellets
* Fruits and Vegetables

### Food Stations

* Food Trough
* Water Trough
* Water Pipe

### Food Enrichment

* Grazing Ball Feeder
* Hanging Grazer Feeder
* Small Barrel Feeder

### Toy Enrichment

* Grab Ball
* Herb Scent Marker
* Ice Block
* Rubbing Pillar
* Scratching Tree Scots Pine
* Scratching Tree Tamarind

### Compatible Animals

* Reticulated Giraffe
* Springbok
* Sable Antelope
* African Buffalo
* Common Ostrich
* Common Warthog
* Plains Zebra
* Thomson's Gazelle