This archive report was first published on 24 August 2020.
On August 23, 2020, a tragic incident occurred at the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where over 300 wildebeests drowned in the Mara River during a stampede.
According to Maasai Mara Deputy Chief Game Warden Eddy Nkoitoi, the stampede most likely happened after the lead bulls chose the wrong point to cross the river.
Heavy rains in the preceding weeks had caused the river to swell to extreme levels, making it treacherous for the migrating herd.
Despite the efforts of KWS rangers led by Nkoitoi, who braved the treacherous waters to save as many calves as they could, the incident was a devastating blow to the ecosystem.
Every year, 1.2 million wildebeests make a clockwise migration loop around the Serengeti, with thousands dying in the process. Research shows that an estimated 6,250 carcasses enter the River Mara annually, providing nutrients for the fish, animals, and aquatic life.
