Thousands of wildebeest drown in Mara River

Animals in Serengeti National Park

Over 15,000 wildebeest have reportedly died in the raging Mara River after drowning as they crossed from Tanzania to Kenya.

In what wildlife experts consider unprecedented, Sarisa Nkadaro, Mara conservancy administrative officer, confirmed that 20,000 wildebeest and zebras had so far been swept away in three different crossing points since the migration season started in July.

Following the massive drowning of the wildlife, tourist picnics along the river, especially near the bridge, have been suspended because of the stench and the subsequent invasion of the area by scavengers.

Maasai Mara`s senior warden, Michael Koikai, termed the incident as ``shocking.``

He further revealed that it was the first time in the history of the reserve that a large number of wildebeest had died in such a tragic manner.

Mara River fund manager Doris Ombara-Okundi attributed the unfortunate phenomenon to the destruction of Mau forest in Kenya.

Serengeti National Park is among the best-known wildlife sanctuaries in the world, unequalled for its natural beauty and scientific value.

With more than two million wildebeest, half a million Thomson�s gazelles and a quarter of a million zebra, it has the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa. The wildebeest and zebra moreover form the star cast of a unique spectacular - the annual Serengeti migration.

The national park, with an area of 12,950 square kilometres, is as big as Northern Ireland, but its ecosystem, which includes the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Maswa Game Reserve and the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya, is roughly the size of Kuwait.

The wildebeest annually cross Mara River during their migration from the Maasai Mara in Kenya to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and vice versa.

Last year, the unique phenomenon earned the wildebeest and the two parks a distinction as one of the new wonders of the world. Every year, the wildebeest migrate from the Maasai Mara in Kenya to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, attracting thousands of tourists to witness the rare event.

Every year, wildebeest, zebras and gazelles roam, pushing ever forward in a clockwise rotation covering the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara in Kenya, along the way encountering friends and foes alike, which include the vagaries of nature like the recent drowning.

A unique combination of diverse habitats enables the Serengeti National Park to support more than 30 species of large harbivores and nearly 500 species of birds.

Its landscape, originally formed by volcanic activity, has been sculptured by the concerted action of wind, rain and sun.

It now varies from open grass plains in the south, savannah with scattered acacia trees in the centre, hilly, wooded grassland in the north, to extensive woodland and black clay plains to the west.

Small rivers, lakes and swamps are scattered throughout. In the south-east rise the great volcanic massifs and craters of the Ngorongoro Highlands. Each area has its own particular atmosphere and wildlife.