Fish Eagle's Wildebeest Coin (CRO)

Roam anywhere in the world, collecting the flags of the countries that I visit.

This is a real coin. If you find anything else please let us know. See the gallery for a photo.

We live close to the Kruger National Park, which we visit frequently, and love dearly. We have dedicated this series of personal geocoins to some of the special animals found in the Park.

BLUE WILDEBEEST  (Connochaetes Taurinus )

Appearance
The dark silver-grey body is marked with dark vertical bands on the front quarters. Blue wildebeest are characterised by a long black mane and a beard of hair hanging from the throat and neck. Both sexes grow short curved horns. In adult bulls the horns are heavily bossed. Bulls weigh 250 kg and measures 1.5 m at the shoulders. Cows are slightly smaller, measuring 1.4 m at the shoulder and with a mass of 180 kg.

Breeding
Blue Wildebeest are seasonal breeders. Births of single calves per cow occur during summer after a gestation period of nine months. Calves can run with the herd within minutes after birth.

Behaviour
Seasonal migration was an optimised survival strategy which allowed the effective use of resources over larger areas and which minimised over-utilisation, both during wet and dry seasons. This is a gregarious herbivore, occurring in herds ranging from ten to a few thousand individuals. Bulls maintain territories when the herd is sedentary.

Where they are found
Distribution is concentrated to the north-eastern regions of South Africa. Not regarded as endangered, but mostly found in conservation areas. Also widely distributed in countries north of South Africa. Population numbers are drastically reduced due to fencing, which restricts traditional and instinctive migration.

Nov06 - Australia

Apr08 - United Kingdom

Apr08 - Jersey

Jul08 - Netherlands

Aug08 - Belgium

Nov08 - Netherlands

Jan09 - Germany

Sep09 - Montenegro

Oct09 - Germany

Aug10 - Austria

Nov10 - Germany

Mar12 - Belgium

Jun12 - France

Jun12 - Netherlands

Jun12 - Belgium

Jul12 - Netherlands

May14 - Germany

Mar16 - Austria

Apr16 - Czech Republic

Jul16 - Slovenia

Jul16 - Austria

Jul16 - Croatia