A new life begins as a wildebeest gives birth. An amazing event to witness. We spotted this female Wildebeest giving birth one morning in the Naboisho Conservancy, Maasai Mara. The calf was born and shook itself several times spraying amniotic fluid around. Within a minute or so the mother was up and looking at her new calf, the remains of the umbilical cord hanging from her. Immediately the calf tried to stand and after a few wobbly moments succeeded and within less than five minutes of being born the calf ran off at its mother’s side! A remarkable adaptation and very important given the number of predators around. Being present as a new life begins as a wildebeest gives birth was a privilege. Looking around there were many more females about to do the same.
Calves are born just before the rains are due to begin and after a gestation period of about 250 days. At birth the calves weigh around 22kg and are able to run with their mother after just a few minutes.