When you think of ‘The Big 5’, the animals in question are immediately recognized worldwide. The term originated as a way of describing these five species as the most difficult for hunters to capture or kill, due to their ferocity and their likelihood to stand their ground and retaliate. Here is a look at the five animals known wide as Africa’s Big Five.
The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest mammal in the world and remarkably adaptable. Elephants live in woodlands, forests, deserts and savanna, spread across 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The demand for ivory led to a dramatic decrease in elephant numbers, especially during the 1970's and 1980's. A ban on all ivory trade has helped stabilize the population to around 600,000 in the last decade. But poaching is still a major issue, especially in parts of Africa where there is political instability. The African elephant is listed as "vulnerable" by the IUCN Redlist of threatened species.
The African lion (Panthera leo) king of the sub-Saharan savanna, has been admired by man for its beauty and strength for thousands of years. It's one of the most exciting animals to see on safari. These beautiful, large cats are excellent hunters but you're more likely to see one sleeping than hunting.
Lions are very social animals, unlike other cats, they live in prides of several females, their young and a couple of males. They will cooperate when hunting difficult prey like a buffalo, but usually they'll take down an antelope on their own. Females hunt more than males and all lions will happily scavenge given half a chance. Lions ambush their prey, (like leopards), rather than track and chase (like hyenas).
The African leopard (Panthera pardus) is more numerous than the African rhino in the Big 5 pantheon, but they are just as difficult to spot on safari in Africa. Leopards use trees as observation platforms and for protection, so you have to remember to look up to see this solitary, beautiful cat. Leopards are shy and nocturnal, quite modest for a cat that can climb, swim and live in a wider range of habitats than most other wild cats. Leopards live throughout sub-Saharan Africa, they cover a wide range of habitats from the thick forests of West Africa to the highlands of Ethiopia, but they prefer thick bush and riverine forests. A leopards' only predator is man. Man has succeeded in getting this magnificent cat on the IUCN's "near threatened" list by reducing the leopards' habitat, depleting its prey and hunting it.
Black rhinos are usually solitary, whereas white rhinos tend to be more social and live in groups. Black rhinos live in savanna, shrub and tropical bush areas, they eat leaves, bushes, small tree branches and shoots. White rhinos live in the savanna and are grazers. Their lips are what distinguish them from one another, a black rhino has a prehensile lip to strip leaves off bushes. A white rhino has a long, flat lip adapted for grazing. Unfortunately, as a result of poaching, these magnificent animals are rarely found in the wild, and very few remain alive in conservation areas with every effort being taken to promote the survival and repopulation of two of the most important species on the planet.
Rhinos are large mammals (only second in size to the elephant), an adult white rhino can weigh in at close to 3000kg. Rhinos are indeed shortsighted, a little bad tempered, but magnificent to look at. Unfortunately there aren't too many to look at these days due to poaching. Rhino horn, used for medicinal purposes to reduce fevers, is much prized in Asia. In 2012, rhino horns were valued at R600 000 per kilo, with each horn weighing in at about 3-4kg, that's a lot of temptation for poachers. If they manage to avoid poachers, rhinos can live up to 30-50 years.
Cape Buffalo are commonly found in protected wildlife throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Four sub-species of African Buffalo have been recognized and reflect the different regions and habitats they live in: Forest Buffalo (S. c. nanus); West African Savanna Buffalo (S. c. brachyceros); Central African Savanna Buffalo (S. c. aequinoctialis); and Southern Savanna Buffalo (S. c. caffer). The forest buffalo are smaller than those found in the savanna.
Cape buffalo are large. Adults stand 4-6 feet tall and males weigh in at around 700 kg's. Even lions don't dare take a chunk out of this beast unless they have friends helping them. Cape Buffalo are said to have killed more big game hunters than any other animal in Africa and are one of Africa's most dangerous animals. Needless to say, the Cape buffalo has never been domesticated, but if left alone they are quite placid.
