DAILY ACTIVITY OF BLACK WILDEBEEST IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT

The daily activity of black wildebeest Connochaetes gnou was investiga ted on a monthly basis over a period of two years at the Koppies Dam N ature Reserve and Game Farm Tussen-die-Riviere, Orange Free State. Wil debeest spent the largest part of the day lying down, followed by graz ing. Whilst most lying down occurred during the middle of the day, whe n temperatures were normally high, feeding reached its highest intensi ty during early morning and late afternoon. Territorial and bachelor m ales both spent significantly more time grazing, standing and performi ng other activities but less time lying down than females. In general all of the social classes tended to reduce standing and 'other' activi ties as the day progressed.