Fun Facts About Gnus and Shrews

• Wildebeest is an Afrikaans name that means "wild beast." Gnu is a derivation of the name used by native Africans. The names “gnu” and “wildebeest” are used interchangeably.

• Gnu babies can stand up and run 4 minutes after birth.

• Gnus migrate in a circular pattern. They migrate to follow the rains and fresh grasses. 1.2 million gnus join other animals for this migration.

• Gnus sleep in rows on the ground, taking turns standing guard for predators.

• A shrew’s heart beats more than 1000 times per minute. For comparison, human hearts beat 60-100/minute

• Some species of shrews are venomous, like snakes.

• Some species of shrews can echolocate, like bats.

• Shrews eat more than their weight in food every day. They can’t survive more than a few hours without eating, so they’re active day and night.

• The lifespan of a shrew is 12-30 months.

• The Etruscan Shrew is the smallest living terrestrial mammal.