>> Intro: The Big Five

THE BIG FIVE

The BIG 5 refers to lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, and buffalo. The term "Big 5" refers more to the danger to the hunters of previous times than the physical size of the animal. Any of the Big 5 could prove extremely dangerous to the hunter if only wounded, and the roles of hunter and hunted could be reversed if the first bullet failed to bring the animal down.

Today, "kills" are usually recorded only on camera, but nevertheless the Big 5 are still a force to be respected. Enjoy your adventure into the bush to discover the Big 5 wild animals of Africa with Eden Safari.

The Big Five are animals which have been proposed to be five animals that each have different and spectacular features compared to other animals. An example of these features is the black rhino, also known as "Diceros bicornis," meaning "two horn". The African rhino, which people refer to as the black rhino is actually not black but was named as the black rhino because of it's dark color that resembles the soil.

The elephant is also part of the Big Five as it is physically larger than any other animal. African elephants weigh up to seven tons which is heavier than most vehicles. Elephants' tusks have great value as ivory. Male elephants are usually larger than female elephants. There are two main species of elephants in Africa. Elephants are considered intelligent mammals because of their highly established social framework.

Another example of an animal from the Big Five is the lion which is said to be one of the most fierce. The habitat for lions is mainly the savanna. They prefer the savanna due to the scarcity of trees and therefore it is easier for them to hunt. Lions prefer to eat gazelles.

The buffalo is also part of the Big Five. There are two main types of buffalos, the water buffalo and the cape buffalo. Buffalos can be dangerous especially when they're provoked. Water buffalos mainly live in water however they do come out to land sometimes. Water buffalos have been known to cause a lot of damage small boats which they can easily overturn.

The Big Five also includes the leopard. Leopards spend a lot of their time on trees and are forest animals. Unlike the lion, leopards don't like the savannah and therefore they prefer forest environments. Many people mix up the leopard with the cheetah as they look alike, however a careful observation will show that their spots are shaped differently. (Cheetahs eat mainly wildebeest and once they're done their remainders make good food for vultures).

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