David Dinkins
English 102
Ashley McWaters
7/3/14

No where in the world is there a movement of animals as immense as the wildebeest migration, over two million animals migrate from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the greener pastures of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya during July through to October. The migration has to cross the Mara River in the Maasai Mara where crocodiles will prey on them. This is one of the highlights as the animals try and cross the Mara River alive. The wildebeest in this photograph have discovered that the threat of amphibious predators is all too real. The two in the lead are narrowly escaping the gaping maw of a hungry croc, as the two behind follow the ones in front. Strangely enough, the two wildebeest just behind the crocodile don’t seem to comprehend the ever present danger. They’ve been following other wildebeest in the herd for so long that they know no other existence but as a follower. Which brought up in my mind this question: “why do they not see the danger”? After doing a bit of research on the migration tactics of the native species, I discovered an interesting phenomenon. In the Maasai Mara wildebeest will be hunted, stalked, and run down by the larger carnivores. The Maasai Mara also has one of the largest densities of lion in the world and is no wonder this is the home of the BBC wildlife channel’s Big Cat Diary. The fact that danger exists on all sides should keep the wildebeest aware at all times. And they are, but not independently. There is what appears to be a natural phenomenon when one analyses the migration patterns of the wildebeest as they pertain to reactions to danger. When crossing a river, the lead wildebeest will carefully and very prudently decide which section of the river is the safest to cross. After many long moments of tactical observation, the lead makes its move. This wildebeest has decided that the route it chose looked to be the safest, and it wastes no time in taking it. Either the wildebeest makes it across the river or it dies struggling until the bitter end. But this doesn’t dissuade or even alarm the other wildebeest. When the first one makes its leap, the rest follow suit with no time wasted. As I pondered why the wildebeest in tow of the lead blindly ignore the imminent danger, I discovered that the answer was much more interesting than I had anticipated. To a certain extent, wildebeest are a lot like horses. They respond to visual, auditory, and even aromatic stimuli. These sensory abilities are enhanced in situations of extreme anxiety or danger, which seems to shut off any tact or care taken to avoid obvious danger. Once the herd is stimulated by the movement of the first individual wildebeest making its move, they all crowd in without a second thought. Further research revealed to me something even more intriguing. The herd of wildebeest is comparable to a hive of bees or a colony of ants in that it operates almost as a hive mind. When a dominant figure in the herd makes a move here or there, none of the herd members challenge it. They don’t even take the time required to make a separate decision, the only time they have is enough to either survive with the herd or die alone from any one of the many dangers that their environment holds for them. So based on the context I have laid out, the message I created could be understood quite literally. But I seek to address a deeper and more relevant topic. I believe that people act too much like wildebeest. Now, before some of you wince at the idea of smelling like dried lake water and funk, constantly swatting flies away from your backside, let me appeal to your imagination. Imagine that we are the wildebeest, all seeking to survive together as the human race. There are many dangers present in this world that seek to snuff each and every one of us out, either directly or inadvertently. Some of these dangers are sown by fellow human beings, others are simply unfortunate incidents catalyzed by nature itself. So why is it that, in an environment filled with people, ideals, or natural phenomenon that could potentially mean our end, no one seeks to think on their own? Why is it that no one pursues their own education beyond simple scholarly pursuits? Why is it that the youth of this generation rely on twitter feeds to inform them culturally and socially? Why is it that people believe everything they see or hear on the news or radio, even though the information being given is simple one facet of the actual truth? Why is it that young men and women are unable or unwilling to make their own decisions and simply follow the direction of their friends who are, in turn, following the direction of theirs? Do we not realize that by following fellow “herd members” into the mouth of danger also puts us at risk? The image draws the viewer in primarily by virtue of the action. Wildebeest are kicking and fighting to evade the many teeth of a dominant predator so keen on their destruction, it will go after more than one at a time. Water splashes in the air as calamity sets in. The rest of the herd becomes anxious and can’t resist knee-jerk reactions. They all go for it at once. The wildebeest in the rear are directly in the face of imminent and life threatening danger, yet the stimulation of movement and activity by the lead wildebeest far outweighs their fear of death. They cannot think individually, they must all move as a single organism. And this is exactly what will happen if we keep blindly following popular members of the majority, pertaining to the societal voice, who have no idea what they’re talking about or how to truly live. Stop waiting on other people who don’t have your best interest in mind to give you some kind of answer to the questions you have, as if you’re unable to come to these conclusions on your own. You have a bright mind, it may not work the way you expected it to but it works. Be the master of your own decisions, leave a legacy of self education and self awareness.