Territorial behaviour of the Black Wildebeest Connochaetes gnou

Abstract

The territorial behaviour of the black wildebeest was studied from 1968 to 1970 in the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve and other reserves in South Africa.

Territoriality is a prerequisite for reproduction. Non-territorial males are barred from partaking in the rut. Territorial males may occupy a territory from their fourth year on, but the majority of territorial owners were five years old or more.

Territorial males formed a network of territories, although single territorial males could also be observed. The spacing between individuals varied between 180-450 m in the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve; spacing of territorial black wildebeest as well as the number of territorial males depend on the density of the population.

Territorial black wildebeest showed a strong and lasting attachment to their territories. The species was territorial throughout the year although absenteeism became prevalent after the rut.

Territorial black wildebeest advertised their territories and defended them against intruding conspecific males. Advertising behaviour included demonstrative-threat advertising derived from marking as well as acoustic, static-optic and dynamic-optic advertising. The species did not demarcate a territory with either faeces or urine, or pre-orbital or interdigital glands.

The encounters of territorial males were governed by highly ritualised motor patterns (Challenge Ritual). The ritual includes both aggressive and non-aggressive behaviour patterns.

The Challenge Ritual ensures that only the fittest male can maintain his territory and thus partake in the rut. Furthermore, it serves to “satisfy“ the social needs of the solitary bulls in the highly gregarious species. Other functions of territorial behaviour include the separation of sexes and the spacing out of the population.

The known agonistic and territorial behaviour of the various species of the tribe Alcelaphini is compared and discussed. The differences and similarities in behaviour do not follow the taxonomic separation of the various species but are indicative of different habitats.