This archive report was first published on 25 August 2020.
On Sunday afternoon, a suspected stampede occurred as wildebeests crossed the Mara River in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, resulting in the deaths of over 300 animals.
The wildebeests' bloated and rotting carcasses now line the riverbank, emitting a foul odor that fills the air of Kenya's famous game park.
Conservationists in the reserve described the deaths near the Lookout area as tragic, attributing the incident to the animals' choice of crossing point.
Maasai Mara Deputy Chief game warden Eddy Nkoitoi believes the stampede occurred due to the high number of wildebeests and the pressure from the back, causing those in front to drop down and block the way.
'So all the wildebeests that came from the back stepped on the first ones down and so on, hundreds died, giving hundreds of crocodiles and vultures more than they can chew,' said Mr Nkoitoi.
According to Mr Nkoitoi, over 10,000 wildebeests have died since the beginning of the migration in May, with various causes including predators, natural reasons, accidents, and stampedes.
He added that this is the worst he has seen in his 10 years of living in the Mara, and it is distressing for those working to prevent poaching to see such large numbers of animals wiped out in a matter of days.
Each year, hundreds of wildebeests die in the stampede, with some drowning in the swirling waters and others being snatched by crocodiles.
Wildebeests are currently migrating northwards towards River Talek, where they graze and mate every year.
The yearly cycle begins in the south of Serengeti, where half a million calves are born between January and March.
From July to October, the peak tourist season, visitors flock to the Mara to watch the dramatic crossings, with the wildebeests meandering between the western and eastern sides of the river, crossing it at different points almost daily.
