ESL, Niveau avancé
African Wildebeest
An American photographer has documented years of observing the wildebeests, who take the same amazing ......... journey each year during migration to search for food, traveling thousands of miles in a loop around the Serengeti National Park each year.
These horned and ungainly animals, seem to communicate with each other about weather conditions before setting off on their hazardous and ......... journey. If a few clouds are observed, the herd starts milling about, as if discussing how soon to begin the trip.
The population of these animals, also known as gnus, is close to 1.5 million, the ......... number making the search for food critical to their survival. There are no "handouts" from the park staff, believing it more important for the animals to use their innate behavior to forage, no matter how far they must travel.
The wildebeests face ......... perils when jumping off cliffs, traversing heavy currents in the Mara River and avoiding crocodiles waiting to attack them, a seemingly necessary challenge to reach their destination.
The ground shakes like a California earthquake as the wildebeests move in mass in the 10,000 square miles of national parks and ......... areas in Kenya and Tanzania, the difference being this "earthquake" can last for hours rather than minutes.
Unfortunately, thousands of the animals face the ......... of broken legs, drowning, or becoming prey to stalking predators, lions, cheetahs, hyenas who look for the weakest animal in the herd.
The wildebeest must cross the Mara River to reach their destination, ......... nervously on the shore before attempting the ardous task of crossing swift currents. Then as if receiving a flaggers's signal, they suddenly begin the exodus, with none staying behind on the shore.
Conservationists are greatly concerned that the ......... of humans and deforestation could quickly decimate the large numbers of Wildebeests. Still others argue that there is no comprehenisible reason for concern, as the females continue to be prolific breeders, producing an abundance of calves every season.
Still, scientists continue to state that the herds are diminishing at a worrisome rate due to ......... and deforestation, which was responsible for the change in the wildebeest population by twenty per cent in the last ten years.
Biologists have stated that in the future, the wildebeest herds may also be affected by the natural ......... of climate change, resulting in more seasonal droughts and flooding. However, they are optomistic that these awkward, horned animals will adapt to changing conditions, just as other species have done to ensure their survival.