wildebeest

Everyday

1. A wildebeest is a large African antelope with curved horns, a long face, a mane and a beard; it is also called a gnu. tree →
2. Wildebeest live in big herds on the grasslands and travel long distances to find fresh grass and water. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography lessons wildebeest are famous for the Great Migration in Kenya and Tanzania, when over a million of them cross rivers full of crocodiles. They are prey for lions, cheetahs and hyenas and are part of savanna food chains. In stories and films (such as «The Lion King») a wildebeest stampede is a dramatic scene.

Examples

• A wildebeest is also called a gnu. tree →
• Thousands of wildebeest crossed the river. tree →
• Lions hunt wildebeest on the savanna. tree →
• The wildebeest herd moved north to find fresh grass. tree →
• A baby wildebeest can walk minutes after it is born. tree →
• Wildebeest eat grass and are herbivores. tree →
• We watched a film about the great wildebeest migration. tree →
• The stampede of wildebeest raised a huge cloud of dust. tree →

Note

Say «WILL-duh-beest». The plural is usually the same: one wildebeest, many wildebeest (also «wildebeests»). It comes from Afrikaans/Dutch for «wild beast». «Gnu» is pronounced «noo»; the g is silent.