Black wildebeest

The black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu (Connochaetes gnou) is one of two wildebeest species—the other being the blue wildebeest—in the family Bovidae. First described in 1780 by the German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann, it is native to the open grasslands, plains, and Karoo shrublands of southern Africa. Adults measure 170–220 cm (67–87 in) in head‑and‑body length and weigh between 110–180 kg (240–400 lb); bulls stand about 111–121 cm (44–48 in) at the shoulder while cows are somewhat smaller. A distinctive long white, horse‑like tail and a dark, shaggy coat set the species apart.

Black wildebeest are grazers that rely almost exclusively on grasses with ready access to water. Their social organisation comprises mixed female–calf herds, bachelor groups, and solitary territorial bulls. Breeding peaks from February to April; following a gestation of roughly 8½ months, a single calf is born and remains with its mother until her next reproductive cycle.

Overexploitation for hides, meat, and as perceived livestock pests drove the species nearly to extinction in the 19th century. Subsequent captive breeding and reintroduction efforts have restored populations across Lesotho, Eswatini, and South Africa, with additional herds now established in Namibia and Kenya. The IUCN classifies the black wildebeest as a species of least concern.