Question

Every year over one million wildebeest migrate in a 300-mile loop around Kenya and Tanzania following the rain pattern. It is an impressive movement of mammals and is considered one of the largest overland migrations. According to what you know about ultimate causes of behavior, which of the following hypothesis (es) do you think explains the wildebeest reasons for migration? What are the benefits associated with such mass migration?

Answer 1

The hypothesis may be the wildebeest migrate to escape from their predators. During the breeding season of predators they must remain close to their dens to feed their young ones and therefore they would not longer follow the migrating wildebeest.

Also to the hypothesis that food is the main factor. Wildebeest migrate to the place where grass is growing best i.e, in the Masai Mara. There is some specific feature of the grass that is different in two areas and that affected the migration.

Wildebeest are thousands of zebras and gazelles forming one superheard. They follow the rain in search of lush new grass. The zebras and gazelles both feed on different parts of the same grass. The animals themselves play an important role in shaping the environment according to their needs.