Big Five Animals

 

Big Five Animals


Africa's Big Five animals refer to the elephant, lion, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard and were so named as they were the most difficult animals to hunt by foot and the term was later adopted by those running safaris across Africa. Due to prolific hunting both lions and bush elephants in Africa are now classified as endangered species. the leopard and white rhino 'near threatened' whilst any hunting of the black rhino is forbidden under international agreement as it is near extinction.



Of all the Big Five Africa animals only the buffalo exists in sufficient numbers to be currently considered not threatened and is thus game for hunting. Although many of the Big Five animals can be found across Africa, all five of them together can only be located in the sub-Saharan countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. For more information, pictures and videos about each of Africa's Big Five animals see below.




Big Five Animals: African Elephant

African Elephant


More about the mighty African bush elephant and also the smaller forest elephant together with details of our elephant webcam so you can see elephants live in their natural habitat.

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Big Five Animals: African Lion

African Lion


More about the endangered African lion whose dwindling population now stands at just 21,000 together with details of our live lion webcam.

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Big Five Animals: African Buffalo

African Buffalo


Information about the African or Cape buffalo of which there are over a million in Africa with three quarters of them living in protected areas. They are the continent's second biggest killer after mosquitoes killing over two hundred people every year.

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Big Five Animals: African Rhino

African Rhino


More about the Africa Rhino with the Black Rhino now close to extinction and listed as "Critically Endangered" with their population declining some 97.6% since 1960, although now making a recovery from its lowest point.

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Big Five Animals: African Leopard

African Leopard


The smallest of the four other big cats, the African leopard can run at over 36 miles per hour and is a secretive and unsociable animal that lives in the bush and forest areas.

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