Wildlife Breeders Journal 2016

eeding
Introduction
Wildebeest, also called gnus or wildebai, seem
to have evolved around 2.5 million years ago and
are a genus of antelopes Connochaetes. They belong
to the family Bovidae, which includes antelopes, cattle,
goats, sheep and other even-toed horned ungulates. They
have lightly built hindquarters but are more robust at their
shoulders and chest. Both sexes possess horns which are shaped
like parentheses and resemble those of the female African Buffalo.
The Golden King Wildebeest, also known as the Chocolate Wildebeest or
Copper Wildebeest (Figure 1.1) originated naturally in the Southern parts of
Botswana and Molopo areas of the North West Province.
Figure 1.2: Crossbred King Wildebeest and Normal
Golden Wildebeest
Figure 1.3: Normal Golden Wildebeest with a large
spot/mark on flank
A Golden King Wildebeest is not a crossbred animal between a King Wildebeest and a
normal Golden Wildebeest (Figure 1.2), as some might believe. Golden King Wildebeest
are not normal Golden Wildebeest with a large mark or spot on their flanks, as is the
beliefs of others (Figure 1.3). Golden King Wildebeest are a NATURAL BREED that
breeds true to their traits.
Description
The Golden King Wildebeest (Figure 3) has similar characteristics to
the King Wildebeest (Figure 2.1 and Figure 2.2). They differ in facial
colour, but have similar body colour, with some animals having a
large spot or mark on their flanks, as in the King.
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