A “dying” wildebeests friend was concerned with him being on the ground and helped him get back up by trying to fling him into the air.
Bradley Ballantyne, 46, captured the sighting while driving home on Olifants Street in Martloth Park. Bradley told LatestSightings.com: “On my way home from having lunch at one of the local waterholes. I turned the corner and noticed a wildebeest displaying unusual behavior, going away at something on the ground.”
Marloth Park, situated just outside Kruger National Park, is home to a variety of wildlife, including the blue wildebeest. These animals are known for their distinctive appearance, with their large, curved horns and shaggy coat. Wildebeest are social creatures and can often be seen in herds, grazing.
“As I got closer, I could not believe that it was another wildebeest on the ground, which certainly looked dead. To me, it was showing no signs of life. I kept recording, and to my amazement, the “dead” animal got to its feet and they both ran away.”
While it may seem strange to us, this is actually a natural behavior for wildebeest. When one of their herd members is injured or struggling, they will often try to help by pushing or nudging them.
“The animals bolted past my car, I drove after them for a few seconds but they ran into the thick bush. I was unable to follow them. I have been visiting Marloth Park for 30 years, seen lions and elephants in the park and many interesting animal behaviors but nothing like this.”
“Sadly, I got to hear from a reliable source in the park that the animal that was being gored had to be euthanized by the game rangers due to the extent of its injuries and its inability to walk properly.”