The Big Five animals from Africa are more than just big. They’re the group of animals that you add to the imaginary checklist in your head when you go on a safari trip to Africa. You simply have to see them all, or you didn’t really go on safari. Let’s find out which animals are included and why they’re so great.
Why Are They Called the Big 5?
I know the most logical explanation would be that these five animals are the biggest animals in Africa. But not everything that involves the animal kingdom involves logic, right? I mean, the giraffe is just as big, and it also graces the African bushes with its beauty. Yet, it’s not a Big Five animal.
The term, Big Five, actually came from 19-century big-game hunters and their experiences trying to hunt these 5 mighty beasts. They found it particularly difficult to hunt these animals, especially when hunting on foot. Not only are they exceptionally big, fast, and difficult to target, but they’re incredibly unpredictable. And with unpredictability, in addition to sharp teeth and massive horns, comes danger. It’s pretty hard to get a good shot if an elephant is charging right at you.
The Big Five’s popularity doesn’t lie in their hunting difficulty anymore. Instead, they’ve gained a new, much more ethical, reputation. Today, more people would prefer to hunt them with their cameras, rather than rifles or shotguns.
1. The Extraordinary Elephant
It makes total sense that the biggest land animal and one of the biggest animals on the planet would be included in a list called the Big Five, right? The African bush elephant, one of the main species of elephants, typically weighs between 5,000 and 15,000 lbs., while the largest recorded individual came in at 24,000 lbs. In general, they’re very gentle, but things change drastically when they’re provoked. Thus, they definitely earned their spot in the Big Five. I couldn’t think of anything more intimidating than a huge mammal with massive tusks and feet that could literally plant me like a seed.
Elephants live in savannahs, forests, and grasslands all over sub-Saharan Africa, where they face the threat of habitat loss. Unfortunately, they’ve also got something that makes them attractive to both hunters and poachers. Their tusks are made of ivory, which is more valuable than gold to poachers. According to the IUCN Red List, the African bush elephant is endangered, and the forest elephant is critically endangered.
2. The Brave African Buffalo
African buffalo. Cape buffalo. Call them what you want, but these big guys with their head mustaches are known for their unpredictability. Actually, their volatile tempers are what make cape buffalo one of the world’s grumpiest animal species. They’re packing in the weight department, but it’s their robust horns and intimidating nature that got them a spot in the Big Five. In fact, since they’re powerful enough to kill some of the other Big Five animals, they’ve earned themselves a crazy nickname. People actually call them Black Death. And yes, they have killed lions in the past.
Remember, there’s a difference between bison, buffalo, and oxen. I don’t think you’ll be surprised to learn that unlike the other two, the mighty African buffalo hasn’t been domesticated. Thus, it doesn’t have any domesticated descendants. Fortunately, they haven’t quite passed the endangered status yet. They’re still considered to be near threatened, and roughly 400,000 individuals roam the plains, swamps, and even woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. Sadly, they’re still very popular amongst trophy hunters.
3. The Lean Leopard
There are many differences between cheetahs and leopards, but one of the biggest differences is that only the leopard is a Big Five animal. Yes, mighty as the cheetah may be, it’s only the leopard that made the cut. Leopards are agile, elusive, sleek, tawny, nocturnal, and mostly solitary animals. All of these attributes add up to make them really difficult to hunt. They’re also fantastic climbers, impeccable ambushers, and draped in the best possible camouflage. In fact, they’re so good at climbing that they can haul their prey into trees so the scavengers can’t get to it.
Sadly, like most of the other Big Five animals, the leopard population finds itself in a vulnerable position. They face threats of habitat loss, despite living in multiple regions across Africa and being adapted to survive in anything from rainforests to arid areas. Also, their skins with the beautiful rosettes are very popular and very much in style, regardless of the fashion season.
4. The Remarkable Rhinoceros
Rhinos are actually the third herbivore species in the Big Five, which is strange considering the reason this group was formed. But herbivores can also be intimidating and difficult to hunt, so here we are. Both black rhinos and white rhinos are Big Five animals and both of them don’t have front teeth, so they use their lips to eat.
Unlike the other Big Five animals, rhino hunting can now only happen in certain areas and only under very strict conditions. Sadly, both of them are a prime target for poaching, so they have to be protected at all costs. Rhino horns are also made of ivory, so they’re great sellers on the black market. And boy, they’re worth a lot. This has led to the white rhino being classified as near threatened, while the poor black rhino’s situation has escalated to critically endangered. The northern white rhino is one of the rarest animals on Earth because there are only 2 female individuals left.
5. The Loyal Lion
We finally made it to the King of the Jungle, the King of the Savannah, the second biggest big cat, and one half of tiger vs. lion. Lions are one of the most popular animal symbols in anything from culture to literature to royalty. You’ll find them on national flags, on both old and modern paintings, in films, and most importantly, in the Big Five.
While the males may look slightly more intimidating with their manes and long sharp teeth, it’s the lionesses that do most of the hunting. Yet, it’s the males that get hunted for trophies. They’re rightful apex predators from Sub-Saharan Africa and India, where they inhabit savannahs, shrublands, and grasslands. Unfortunately, the big cat species is listed as vulnerable due to human conflict and habitat loss.
