The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a fairly common antelope in Africa. The wildebeest’s other name, gnu, comes from its characteristic call. The breeding season is remarkably short : 80 to 90% of the births occur within a 2 to 3 weeks period, when the wet season begins. This is a well-thought strategy : by creating a glut for predators, more calves are able to survive the critical first weeks. As a nomadic species, the blue wildebeest is known to travel between 500 and 1,000 miles each year.