AFRICAN BUFFALO (SYNCERUS CAFFER) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

AFRICAN ELEPHANT (LOXODONTA AFRICANA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

LEOPARD (PANTHERA PARDUS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

LION (LEO PANTHERA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

RHINOCEROS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Black Rhinoceros (Diceros Bicornis) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium Simum) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Page 1

THE BIG FIVEAFRICAN BUFFALO (SYNCERUS CAFFER)

Page 2

AFRICAN BUFFALO (SYNCERUS CAFFER)

Many people are surprised when they discover that the buffalo is counted among Africa’s BigFive. But to underrate the buffalo, strongly resembling the domestic cow, would be a mistake.In fact, many hunters have met untimely deaths because they underestimated this powerfulanimal. Even the feared lion often has to beat a hasty retreat when charged by an enragedbuffalo and many seasoned hunters consider this powerful bovine as the most dangerous ofthe Big Five.

Adult buffaloes have a dark brown colour and calves are light reddish brown. Both males andfemales are characterised by their heavy, curved horns. Older males carry a heavy ‘boss’ atthe centre of the horn.

In South Africa, the mating period for the buffalo lasts from March to May. Calves are born 12months after conception. Usually only a single calf, weighing some 35 kg, is born.

Male buffaloes weigh an average of 750 kg and grow to a height of 1, 4 metres at the shoul-ders, but there are records of big bulls weighing as much as 900 kg! Females are smaller,weighing about 550 to 600 kg.

Page 3

The buffalo makes various noises, including bellowing, grunting, snorting and mooing. Manyan unsuspecting game watcher has been surprised by an angered bull’s grunt, soundinguncannily like a lion.

The African bull buffalo bull is not just strong and ferocious; he is also cunning. Hunting folk-lore has many tales of an injured, enraged bull doubling back, sometimes as much as severalkilometres, to attack his tormentor from behind. Photographers have also often been sur-prised by this animal’s behaviour. The buffalo will sometimes stand perfectly still until the pho-tographer passes and then come up from behind to observe the intruders! One of the rea-sons the buffalo is able to do this, is that it is well camouflaged in the bush.

Characteristics not often observed in other herbivores are the buffalo’s courage and team spir-it. Dominant bulls often come to the aid of another buffalo that is in danger, even if the latteris being attacked by lions.

Buffaloes usually feed on short grass but will occasionally sample some shrubs and leaves.They are often spotted licking at termite mounds, satisfying their craving for salt.

Buffaloes are commonly found in many of the game reserves in South Africa, including theKruger, Ndumo, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi and Addo Elephant Parks.

Page 4

AFRICAN ELEPHANT(LOXODONTA AFRICANA)

The African elephant is the largest land mammal on the planet Earth. A big bull may grow upto an awesome four metres and weigh up to six tons! Females are somewhat smaller but stillstand about two and a half to three metres high and weigh about three tons.

Both males and females carry tusks. The massive tusks of older bulls can weigh up to 50 or60 kilograms, but tusks weighing up to 90 kilograms have been recorded.

The majestic elephant’s strength, enormous size and stature have always gripped the imagi-nation of man. Fairly recently, however, researchers have drawn our attention to the fact thatthis creature is perhaps more like us than we ever imagined.

Page 5

Elephants have a life span of 60 to 70 years.Their most human-like characteristic is that theyremember what they learnt from previous expe-rience and are able to use this knowledge totheir advantage. Another similarity is that theirdevelopment stages correspond strongly withthat of humans. During their life span, thestages of naughty and inquisitive childhood;rebellious youth; refined, intelligent adulthoodand proud, majestic old age can be discerned.

In elephant society, each family is led by anexperienced adult female, called the matriarch.She leads, protects and cares for all in the fam-ily. This family group usually consists of a num-ber of females of various ages and of youngmales. The females in the family are oftenrelated to the matriarch and the young malesare usually their offspring. Adult bulls usuallytravel alone or in small groups.

Page 6

On occasion, you might come across another “family” unit - an enormous bullflanked by one or two younger bulls, acting as his askaris. These youngsterslearn from their master how to be great bulls, in a relationship similar to thehuman mentor/student relationship. Always eager to prove themselves, they willcharge at the slightest provocation, hoping to impress their master.

Unlike most other mammals, the elephant does not have a seasonal breedingcycle. Females only reproduce once in three or four years and calves are bornafter a two-year gestation period and weaned at the age of two. Newborn calveshave an average birth weight of 100 kg.

Also peculiarly human-like, the birth of a calf is a joyous occasion for the family.All members take care of and fuss over the calves. It has even been observedthat big bulls nudge greetings to youngsters at waterholes and other meetingplaces.

Elephants communicate by making a wide range of sounds. They trumpet,scream, growl and bellow but most of their communication is carried out by infrasound, which is not audible to the human ear. The parts of the sound that wesometimes hear, are often mistaken for stomach rumbling.

In South Africa, dedicated conservation efforts have brought the elephant backfrom the brink of extinction. Today, elephants can be observed in many of thegame reserves in South Africa, including the Kruger, Addo Elephant, Tembe,Pilanesberg and Knysna Parks.

Page 7

Page 8

LEOPARD (PANTHERA PARDUS)

Page 9

LEOPARD (PANTHERA PARDUS)

Although it is only the third largest cat in the world after the tiger and the lion,the leopard is certainly the most successful in terms of adaptability and sur-vival. It is also generally recognised as being the most beautiful cat in Africa.

South African leopards are a rusty brown to tan gold, with groups of spotscalled rosettes. The biggest males weigh up to 90 kg, and are about 290 cm inlength. On average, females weigh between 45 kg and 55 kg.

Leopard cubs are born after a gestation period of three and a half months.Females usually give birth to two or three cubs in hidden lairs of natural holesor thick bush. The leopard mother takes great care to hide the cubs from pred-ators such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas, who would make an easy meal ofthe cubs. The cubs stay with the mother for at least a year, during which timethey learn the ways of the wild and how to survive on their own.

Page 10

Leopards have earned the admiration of many for their agility, speed and cunning and theirremarkable night vision, which allows them to hunt both by day and by night. These predatorsare also capable of great patience, an attribute that crowns much of their efforts with success.

The success of this animal as a predator, by comparison with its bigger cousins, is due to itsvaried diet. Although leopards generally feed on medium and small antelopes, they have alsobeen known to feed on hyrax, baboons, foxes, fish and reptiles. There are even accounts ofleopards living on a diet of insects and rodents in times of scarcity. Leopards are so adapt-able that they have even been known to survive on the outskirts of towns and villages!

Being a solitary hunter, the leopard has to make quick, silent and efficient kills or run the riskof attracting other predators. The leopard usually kills by administering a fatal bite to thethroat of the prey, which tears the windpipe. After feeding to the full, the leopard often hides itskill from scavengers by burying or covering it and returns to it to feed again when it is hungry.Leopards are also known to haul their kills up a tree, especially in areas where there is com-petition from other predators such as lion and hyena. This behaviour is further evidence ofthis animal’s intelligence.

Page 11

Leopards make many sounds such as rasping, grunting and mewing. Allthese sounds communicate different messages, e.g. proclaiming their terri-tory, making mating calls and expressing aggression. Leopards also pro-claim their territory by leaving scent markings.

Leopards can be viewed in their natural habitat in a number of gamereserves in South Africa. These include the Kruger National Park inMpumalanga and Pilanesberg National Park in the North West Province.There are isolated leopard populations in the Drakensberg MountainRange and leopards can be seen on many private game reserves andfarms throughout South Africa.

Page 12

Page 13

LION (LEO PANTHERA)

Page 14

LION (LEO PANTHERA)

The lion is the largest and most powerful predator in Africa, - the king of the jungle. This magnificent carnivore has always fascinated mankind, perhaps because man has often fallen -and still falls - prey to this king of beasts.

Male lions weigh about 190 kg and females about 130 kg. However, big males weighing astaggering 250 kg have been recorded! The average male stands 120 cm high at the shoulder and is between 250 to 320 cm in length, from nose to tail tip. The most distinctivefeature of the male lion is its mane (thick hair that covers the head, neck and shoulders).

Page 15

Lions are opportunistic huntersand will kill and feed on justabout any animal. They preymostly on large mammals suchas wildebeest, springbok, impalaand zebra, but they have alsobeen known to hunt massiveand dangerous prey such asbuffaloes, hippopotami, juvenile elephants, giraffes andrhinoceroses. An interesting factis that they are scavengers tooand, when the opportunity pres-ents itself, will feed on carrion.Being the biggest predator, theyoften use their imposing size tobully other predators and taketheir kill from them.

Page 16

Page 17

Lions are social animals and are the most cooperative of all the big cats. The females huntand look after their young together, forming prides. Lion cubs are born after a gestation period of 14 to 15 weeks. They are born in well-hidden lairs, carefully selected by theirmother, and only join the pride after about five weeks.

Page 18

The roar of the lion is an impressive sound and perhaps the sound most associated with theAfrican wild. Apart from roaring, lions also communicate by scent-marking their surroundings,and even by their facial expressions and body postures. Lions display their aggression byshowing their impressive canine teeth, retracting their ears and displaying the dark patchbehind the ears, their tails twitching in irritation. Anyone meeting a lion in this mood would bewell advised to beat a hasty retreat.

Sadly, sub-Saharan Africa is the last refuge of these supreme animals and South Africa offerssome of the best opportunities to view lions in their natural habitat. The world renownedKruger National Park is home to a number of lion prides and lions are found in several othergame reserves and private farms all over the country.

Page 19

Page 20

RHINOCEROS

Page 21

Black Rhinoceros(Diceros Bicornis)

Nature’s tank that will charge anything, even a train, at a speed of an astounding 60 km/h - anapt description of the black rhinoceros. This animal has a reputation for a short temper, incontrast to its more gentle-tempered cousin, the white rhinoceros. Unfortunately, the black rhi-noceros is critically endangered and is on the IUCN red list. However, South Africa hasachieved some significant successes in saving this animal.

An adult black rhinoceros stands about 1, 7 metres high at the shoulder and can weigh up to1,2 tons. It has thick grey skin and two horns on its face. The black rhinoceros has pointedlips, which are adapted to eating shrubs and woody plants, a marked difference from the moresquarely shaped lips of the white rhinoceros.

Black rhinoceros calves are born after a gestation period of 15 months. Usually only a singlecalf, weighing about 40 kg, is born, The calf will remain with its mother for two to three years.

Black rhinoceroses are generally solitary animals. However, younger rhinoceroses are oftenseen in small social groups, formed for security and, occasionally, a young bull is seen in thecompany of an older bull. Females are often accompanied by a calf and by another young-ster. The second youngster may be her elder offspring, or just a lonely youngster, seekingsecurity.

Page 22

Rhinoceroses, like most pachyderms, love towallow in muddy pools, keeping their skins cooland protecting them from parasites. During thehottest periods of the day, they usually seekshelter under trees and tall bushes.

South African conservation bodies have foughta brave battle to save this species from extinc-tion after poachers nearly wiped them out total-ly. Today, the black rhinoceros is making aslow, but steady recovery. South Africa housesthe largest population of these herbivores inAfrica and the black rhinoceros can be seen insome game reserves of KwaZulu-Natal and inthe Pilanesberg National Park in the NorthWest Province. They are also to be found inprivate game reserves around the country.

Page 23

White Rhinoceros(Ceratotherium Simum)

Page 24

White Rhinoceros(Ceratotherium Simum)

The white rhinoceros is the largest land mammal after the elephant and is larger than theblack rhinoceros. This is an animal from prehistoric times, which has changed little since itfirst began to roam the earth, millions of years ago. Nature selected this species for success,until man’s greed caught up with it.

Fortunately, today they also are a protected species and once again roam free in the gamereserves of South Africa.

The skin of the white rhinoceros is thick, grey in colour and almost completely hairless. Thewhite rhinoceros has a placid nature, in contrast to his relative, the black rhinoceros. Still, youwould not wish to irritate it, otherwise you might find yourself in the unenviable position ofbeing in the direct path of a 2 400 kg charge! Also, unlike the black rhinoceros, the white rhi-noceros is more dependent on water.

Page 25

White rhinoceros males are territorial. Each dominant male has his own territory, whichencompasses several females and a few subordinate males. Only the dominant male willmate with the females within his territory. Should there be no water in his territory, he willcross into another male’s territory for a drink but, while there, will act submissively towards thedominant male. Territorial boundaries are marked by urine sprayed on the perimeter.

Page 26

Both white and black rhinoceros make similar sounds. They bellow, snort, grunt, mew, shriekwhen frightened and can also snarl.

The rescue of the white rhinoceros from the brink of extinction is one of the great success sto-ries of South African nature conservation. Today, they thrive in reserves such as the Kruger,Umfolozi or Pilanesberg national Parks and in some private game reserves.

Page 27