African lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, and Cape buffalo are referred known as the “Big Five.”
The word is now commonly used to sell safaris, but it was created by big-game hunters more than a century ago. Everyone from European aristocracy to American presidents sought an African hunting trophy in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The bigger and more unexpected the beast, the better – hence the Big Five’s fame.
The Big Five are dangerous, but they are not unbeatable. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has classified African lions, leopards, and elephants as Vulnerable. The black rhinoceros is Critically Endangered, the Southern white rhino is Near Threatened, and the Northern white rhino is gone. The Cape buffalo is the least concerned about conservation, but it is also the most popular game to shoot. The Cape buffalo population is also declining due to hunting, poaching, and habitat destruction.
What are the locations of the Big Five?
South Africa is an excellent location for spotting the Big Five.
According to CITES, South Africa is home to around 80% of Africa’s remaining wild rhino population, as well as an elephant population of approximately 12,000 – a significant increase from a paltry 120 in 1920. South Africa has approximately 20,000 lions left (down from 200,000 at the turn of the twentieth century), whereas leopard numbers are estimated to be around 4,500.
What can you do to help the Big Five survive?
Wildlife enthusiasts can contribute to conservation initiatives as tourists or volunteers. Tourists who come to photograph the Big Five with a camera lens rather than a weapon help conservation. The safari sector generates revenue to protect parks and reserves, employs locals, and encourages wildlife conservation.
Volunteering with animals in South Africa is a more direct approach for you to contribute to their protection.
Wildlife conservation facilities and safari parks serve as educational hubs, provide refuge for orphaned and injured animals, and facilitate breeding initiatives to preserve the Big Five’s survival. Volunteer program fees at these centers help to cover operating costs, and participants return home as animal conservation ambassadors.
Why are they known as the Big Five?
The name “Big Five” was coined to describe the difficulty of hunting the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo. These five enormous African animal species were known to be hazardous, and bringing them home was considered a triumph by prize hunters.
