The Wildebeest

In their annual mass migration, millions of wildebeest drown in their journey across the water. Despite their fates, researchers have found that their tragedy feeds a number of other creatures that live in the ecosystem around them. From the predators that eat the drowned carcasses of the animal, to the vultures that pick at the leftover meat on their bones, wildebeests serve as significant sources in many animals' diets.

While the phenomenon that occurs is very gruesome and particularly disappointing, it is important to recognize that this is process that happens purely due to nature. In this case, the wildebeest migration has not been meddled with by any humans, and I admire that particular trait. It would be very interesting to find this similar pattern in other ecosystems, possibly ones that occur within the wildlife that is near our homes. Studying the natural patterns that happen in our backyard with animals such as birds or insects would not only give people an understanding of what was happening in the world around us before large houses or buildings were built, it would also help humans to realize their large impact on the organisms' lives. We could acknowledge how our structures disrupted their ecosystems, but at the same time theorize ways to restore the natural patterns and really observe what these organisms need us to stop doing.