VETPAW - VETPAW reviews the "Big Five" iconic species of South Africa

The royalty of South Africa - the “Big Five”

In the game reserves and national parks of Southern Africa, the Big Five represents safari royalty - the African lion, the African leopard, the African elephant, the Cape buffalo, and the black and white rhino. VETPAW reviews the iconic, “Big Five” species of South Africa and their importance to the ecosystem.

The history of the “Big Five” phrase

Originally coined by early game hunters, the phrase “Big Five” referred to the species that were the hardest and most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. This made them the biggest prizes, hence, the Big Five. Today, the phrase refers to the most sought-after safari sightings.

1. The African elephant

The world's largest and heaviest land animal, African elephants are found in 37 sub-Saharan countries and are capable of surviving in a wide range of different habitats, from lush wetlands to arid deserts.

From their inch-thick skin that protects them from the bush thorns to their enormous ears that help to disperse heat and regulate body temperature, elephants adapt well to their environment. They can consume up to 50 gallons of water and 375 pounds of vegetation every day.

Social animals, elephants live in matriarch-led groups that often number more than 100 individuals and communicate using a variety of low-frequency rumbles that can travel for many miles. Female calves usually stay with the herd throughout their life, while young males leave to form bachelor groups and create herds of their own.

Due to the rising global demand in the 1980s for ivory, there has been a dramatic decrease in elephant numbers. A ban on all ivory trade has helped stabilize the population to around 600,000 in the last decade, but poaching remains a big threat to the iconic species. The African elephant is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

2. The African lion

The undisputed king of the sub-Saharan savannah and the world's second-largest cat after the tiger, lions are very social animals. They live in prides composed of one or two males, several females, and their cubs. Lions sleep for up to 20 hours a day and hunt at night, with the lionesses leading the attacks and ambushing their prey.

With a lifespan of around 14 years of age, lions have few natural predators although buffalo will often trample cubs. Most prides experience a high rate of cub mortality, while males often die whilst protecting their territory.

Traditional hunting customs, big game hunters, and large-scale habitat loss have led to a decline in lion populations in Africa. The lion is also classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

3. African leopard

The African leopard is a naturally shy and an exclusively nocturnal animal that spends the daylight hours hidden from view. Excellent climbers, leopards use trees to scan for prey and to store fresh kills away from scavengers like lions and hyenas.

Superbly camouflaged with a series of black spots, or rosettes, leopards have large territories and seldom stay in the same area for more than a few days. They are supremely strong, agile, and good swimmers, and can take down prey much larger than themselves.

Leopards are distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa and are one of the few big game species still found outside national parks.

Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, leopards are threatened by humans. Encroaching farmlands have reduced their habitat, while farmers often shoot them to stop them from preying on their livestock.

4. Cape buffalo

Found in water-rich game reserves and national parks throughout sub-Saharan Africa, cape buffalo has four subspecies, the largest of which is most commonly seen in East and Southern Africa.

With the reputation of being one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, cape buffalo are formidable with their bad-temper and fused set of deadly curved horns. Despite their fierce reputation, buffalo are relatively peaceful and are protective of their weaker members.

Cape buffalo are under threat from humans due to being one of the most sought-after trophy animals for big game hunters. They are exceptionally susceptible to domestic cattle diseases like rinderpest and bovine tuberculosis.

5. White and black rhino

There is no difference in color between the black and the white rhino except for their lips—the black rhino’s are pointed and prehensile, while the white rhino’s are flat and wide.

Black rhinos are usually solitary and bad-tempered, while white rhinos often live in pairs. Black rhinos prefer desert and scrubland areas and are herbivorous browsers while white rhinos graze on areas of open savannah

Both the species are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. They are at risk of extinction due to the poaching epidemic fueled by the demand for rhino horns in Asian cultures. Three subspecies of black rhino are already extinct, while the northern white rhino is extinct in the wild. It is estimated that there are around 5,000 black rhinos and 20,000 white rhinos left in the wild.

These five iconic species are crucial for the conservation of biodiversity and the health of the ecosystem. VETPAW is working tirelessly to protect the remaining population of the “Big Five” species and spread awareness about wildlife conservation.

VETPAW - Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife

Founded in 2013, VETPAW is a non-profit organization and a community of US war veterans dedicated to protecting African wildlife and training local African rangers in the war against poaching.