Citation
Serengeti-Mara Wildebeest Migration Studies
TL;DR
2 million wildebeest in Serengeti-Mara ecosystem
Foundation for chapter's core metaphor of migration economics. Documents 2 million wildebeest, 800-mile annual migration, 250,000 deaths (12.5% mortality), grass protein content differentials (10-15% wet season vs 3-5% dry season), and the fundamental calculation that 12.5% migration mortality beats 60% starvation mortality.
Provides empirical basis for the migration decision framework: move when movement cost < starvation cost.
Key Findings from researchers (2020)
- 2 million wildebeest in Serengeti-Mara ecosystem
- 800 miles annual migration following rains
- 250,000 die annually (12.5% mortality rate)
- Wet season grass 10-15% protein vs dry season 3-5%
- Mara River crossings kill 6,000-10,000 annually
- Synchronized calving: 500,000 in 2-3 week window