Herds/Swarms as anti-predation strategy

• The main advantage of forming herds and flocks/swarms, rather than leading a solitary existence, is protection against predators
• The larger a group, the better the chances of survival of the individuals
• The cooperation between members of a herd or flock often serves as their anti-predation strategy
• The many 'eyes and ears' of a group help to detect any approaching predators
• In herds of ungulates and flocks of birds, some members are often particularly watchful and ready to raise the alarm when danger threatens
• Ungulates have a horny sheath, the hoof, that covers the tips of toes, e.g cattle, buck, horses, hippopotamus and zebra. They are mainly herbivores
• Grazing ungulates, such as blue wildebeest and zebra, often organise themselves in such a way that the stronger individuals are on the perimeter of the herd and the weakest, such a females and young, towards the inside.
• A group of animals fleeing from a predator react with typical herd behaviour, where the fleeing herd moves as a unit. Each individual group member reduces the danger to itself by staying as close as possible to the centre of the group
• A group of animals fleeing from a predator react when the herd scatters in all directions. This confuses the predator and makes it harder to catch the prey
• A predator can be attacked by a large herd or flock. This is particularly common in birds protecting their young
• Some animals confuse predators with colouring that makes them difficult to identify. (Zebra stripes merge together and present a confusing image)
• Predators find it difficult to pick out individual prey from a group, because the many moving targets create a confusing image and overload the predator's sensory input.