Animals have begun their annual migration in East Africa's savanna.

Saturday, July 21, 2012,  CCTV BEIJING - Almost 10,000 gnus gathered along the Sand River Friday, which lies at the border of Kenya and Tanzania, signaling start of the annual animal migration.

The gnu which is also called "wildebeest" is characterized by a large dark antelope with a long head, a beard and mane, and a sloping back.

"The activity of wild animals have strong patterns of randomness. They will go anywhere for grass and water. The grass here (on river bank) is almost eaten up by a large number of gnus and zebras. And they will move to another place where they can get lush green meadows and plentiful water after one or two days," said a tour guide in the area.

For the large cat-species, who are not on the run for green pastures like wildebeest or zebras, the current time presents a golden opportunity to cross borders for a hunting expedition as prey animals are greater in number during the mass migration movement.

The lions, the natural killer in Africa, are seen wandering on the prairie from time to time, watching for their chances to hunt down preys.

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