The black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu (Connochaetes gnou) is one of two wildebeest species. The natural populations of this species, endemic to the southern part of Africa, have been almost completely exterminated, but the species has been reintroduced widely, both in private areas and nature reserves throughout most of Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa, Namibia and Kenya. It was also introduced outside its natural range (Wilson & Reeder, 1993; East, 1989, 1996).
The primal herds were exterminated, being seen as pests, with the secondary advantage of using the hides and meat. Thus, this animal exists primarily in herds derived from captive specimens.
Its preferred habitat types are grassveld savanna in the Karoo of the central South Africa plateau (Lynch, 1983; von Richter, 1974).
The other species of genus Connochaetes is the blue wildebeest, which has a more northerly range.
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