නැගෙනහිර අප්රිකාවේ මහා වනජීවී සංක්රමණය!
Great wildlife migration starts in East Africa
The annual spectacle of wildlife migration is taking place in East Africa, with tens of thousands of wildebeests, zebras and other herbivores embarking on an expedition from south to north in search of fresh pastures and water sources.
The great migration is best known for when the herds cross the Mara river -- a journey both treacherous and tragic -- which is regarded as one of the natural wonders of the world.
Founded in 1961, the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, located at the border between Kenya and Tanzania and connected to the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania, boasts a wide variety of wild animals in large numbers and is one of the best wildlife reserves across the globe.
Every year between August and September, as the Serengeti grasslands in the south suffer from continuous drought, animals flock northward, crossing the border to the wildlife reserve for sufficient water and food.
"The migration route of these animals is generally from the southern part of the Serengeti in Tanzania, through the central part of the Serengeti, which we call Seronera, and finally enter the northernmost part of the Serengeti in Kenya, and then get to the Masai Mara. They stay here for a while and then start to cross rivers. After crossing the Mara River, they migrate to the northernmost part of Masai Mara. Finally, they return in the north," said Ou Dahua, a bilingual tour guide in Kenya.
On the journey seeking water and food, the wildebeests have to cross several large rivers including the Mara River.
When crossing rivers, these animals not only have to suffer physical hardships like hunger, thirst, and exhaustion, but also have to be vigilant against lions and leopards lurking in the grasslands and crocodiles hiding in the rivers.
The wildebeests' great trek culminates in their spectacular jump to cross the crocodile-ridden Mara River.
While the animals are at risk along the way, new wildebeests are born at the same time before the long rainy season, adding hope to the arduous journey.
"This is due to setting of pastures and water. During August in Tanzania, it becomes dry and starts to rain in the northern part of Tanzania, especially from this part of Mara River going to Kenya. So they cross over this river, they smell like good pasture is over the other side of the river. So they cross, regardless the crocodiles and other things that can just make them die. Like they can sink inside the water and die, they can be taken by the crocodile and die. But the rest of the team will cross over to the other side of the river and go to get food and water," said a local guide.
Every year, nearly 2 million wild animals join the migration, including 1.5 million wildebeests and 500,000 zebras.
The migration begins in late June, and animals will return to the southern Serengeti grassland in January of the following year.
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