There are two species-the black rhinoceros and the white rhinoceros-and five subspecies between them left in Africa. Long sought after by poachers, elephants have a fragmented range throughout central and southern Africa. Savanna elephants are large enough to change the landscape, pulling up trees to make grasslands, dispersing seeds, and overall increasing biodiversity. The African forest elephant, which is about three feet shorter and lives in the forests of the Congo Basin, was declared a separate species after genetic testing in 2010 showed big differences between the forest and savanna dwellers. The biggest of the Big Five is the African savanna elephant, which can weigh up to seven tons. Buffalo can be aggressive, and frequently come into conflict with humans outside of protected areas. That’s why a lion that attacks a buffalo is taking a huge risk of dying. It’s a helpful defense-as is being more than three times heavier than their lion adversaries. Male and female buffalo both have horns, but the males’ curve upward and fuse together in the center, forming a solid bony plate called a boss.
These hefty, cow-like animals often congregate by the thousands in the Serengeti forming large groups is one defense against predators. (Related story: “ In real life, Simba’s mom would be running the pride.”) African buffalo Lion society is also matrilineal, “so the females hold the territories,” and stay with the pride into which they’re born.
One male may be dominant over the others, but that can change at any time. “They are egalitarian, which means they don’t have a permanent social hierarchy.” These big cats are “not born into a rank,” Borrego says. Lions are the only social big cat, but don’t expect to see the king. (Related: “ A lioness killing a leopard floored these filmmakers.”) African lion If a lion has a chance to kill a leopard, it will. There’s another reason for leopards to stay aloft: They don’t exactly get along with their fellow Big Fiver, the African lion. The solitary big cats haul large kills, such as zebra or antelope, into a tree to eat alone, in peace. Black leopards, which appear to be almost solid in color because their spots are hard to distinguish, are commonly called black panthers. Speaking of spots, most leopards are light-colored, with distinctive dark spots that are called rosettes. “I call them ninja cats because they’re just sneaky and they’re harder to spot,” Borrego says. This is the most elusive, and also the smallest, of the five.
Here’s are some fascinating facts about the Big Five. Only about 20,000 of the big cats remain in the wild. That’s especially true because all of these species are decreasing in population-lions in particular are struggling, having lost 94 percent of their original habitat. These magnificent beasts are Africa's "big five." Learn photo tips for heading on safari in Botswana For a continent that is known for its amazing wildlife, these are the biggest of the big.
0 kommentar(er)
