Animal migration is a natural phenomenon, in which animals move long distances on a seasonal basis. Basically, animals migrate to find the best food and to find suitable places for breeding. This phenomenon can occur in animals, birds, reptilians, and amphibians. For nature and wildlife lovers, animal migration is a perfect season to visit animals and spend time with migrating herds of animals. They travel across the globe to find a perfect migration spot, where they should spend time with their favourite wildlife species.
Today in this article we will share some of the most spectacular animal migrations from all over the world. So let’s start:
1. Wildebeest Migration
Wildebeests are antelope species which live throughout Eastern and Southern Africa. They are closely relative to goats and sheep. They live in large herds, to prevent predatory attacks. Wildebeests migrate on a seasonal basis to find food and a suitable place for breeding. They migrate between two African countries Tanzania and Kenya.
From the Serengeti region of Tanzania to the Masai Mara region of Kenya and then back to Serengeti. Between December and March or May and November, about 1.8 million wildebeests migrate between these two countries. The governments of these countries made a very friendly travel experience for visitors. Every year thousands of wildlife lovers came to Africa to join the migration from Tanzania to Kenya. They rent vehicles and guides for a few days and migrate with the huge herds of wildebeests.
2. Cranes Migration
Cranes are seasonal-based migratory birds, they migrate from season to season in search of better habitat for food, to find their partners and for better breeding. There are three subspecies of cranes which migrates across the seasonal habitats. Lesser cranes have the largest migratory route of all crane species. They migrate from Far eastern Siberia to northern Mexico.
Sandhill Canadian Cranes migrate annually from Canada to Alaska and vice versa. Their migratory season is from March to April. In this migration 500,000 cranes migrate to North America.
3. Butterflies Migration
Butterflies are the most beautiful insects. Monarchs are a specie of butterflies, that can be found throughout North America. In North America, their homes are in USA, Canada and Mexico. Here they migrate annually with the change of weather. They migrate from USA and Canada to Central Mexican forests.
Every year about 500,000 Monarch butterflies travel through a 2,500 miles route. This season of migration attracts thousands of visitors to join them on their journey. The migration route produces a magical landscape full of Monarchs and natural beauty.
4. Caribou(Reindeer) Migration
Caribou are deer species, also called reindeers. Both are the same species but there are a few differences. Caribou can be found throughout North America, whereas reindeer are found in Europe. Every year thousands of Caribou migrate between their winter and summer habitats. This journey ended up after a long 2,000 miles migration journey. Caribou migration is the longest migration on land. They migrate because of seasonal changes and to find the best food.
5. Salmon Fish Migration
Salmon fish are several species of ray-finned fish. They can be found throughout North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Salmon are the only fish, which can live in both freshwater and oceans. They are the most unique of all fish, born in fresh waters and then migrate to oceans, and then migrate again to freshwaters to reproduce their offspring.
Most of the migration occurs in the Autumn season where millions of salmon fish migrate from oceans to freshwater lakes and streams. In this season the fish predators, also came into action to hunt more salmons. The most famous predators are grizzly bears, which can be found throughout lakes and streams in the search of prey during this season.
6. Zebras Migration
Zebras are black and white striped animals native to Eastern and Southern Africa. They are very unique species of their kind. They graze over Savannahs and shrub lands. Just like many other animals, Zebras also migrate annually to different parts of Africa. In Eastern Africa, they join wildebeests to migrate from Tanzania to Kenya. Large herds of zebras migrate along with millions of zebras.
Annually about 750,000 zebras migrate along with wildebeests. In southern Africa, Okavango Delta is the most diverse ecosystem, home to millions of wildlife populations. Here predators and prey are found in a very large variety. This diverse ecosystem is home to thousands of zebras. They migrate annually from Okavango Delta to the Makadikadi plains in November. Zebras migrate for better food grazing.
