WHAT ARE THE BIG 5?

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balanced columns
The “Big 5” refers to the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, and African elephant. Why not the hippo, zebra, hyena, or giraffe you may
with photos
ask? How about the cheetah? That would be an animal you would probably like to see as much as a buffalo. Well, the term “Big 5” was actually
coined by big game hunters. It refers to the difficulty in bagging these large animals, mostly due to their ferocity when cornered and shot at.

Lion Leopard Rhino

 Large, robust cat with a long, heavy
muzzle
 Male develops mane beginning in third
year
 Length: 8 to 11 feet
 Height: 3 feet 8 inches to 4 feet
 Weight: 268 to 528 lbs.
 Habitat: Grasslands and savannas,
woodlands, and dense bush
 Breeding: Year round; 1 to 4 cubs; 3.5
months’ gestation
 Prides include up to 30 or 40 lions
 Females are lifelong residents of their
mothers’ territories
 Adolescent males roam as nomads until
they mature
 Large, spotted cat with short, powerful
limbs, heavy torso, thick neck, and
long tail
 Short, sleek, coat tawny yellow to
reddish brown
 Length: 3 feet 4 inches to 4 feet 2
inches
 Tail: 27 to 32 inches
 Height: 23 to 28 inches
 Weight 62 to 143 pounds
 Habitat: Every type except interior of
large deserts
 Breeding: 1 to 4 cubs born year round
 Solitary and territorial but sometimes
shares hunting ranges
 Eats whatever form of animal protein
is available
 Among the largest of the herbivores
 Barrel-shaped body, thick legs, and
three-toed feet
 Very long head with wide, square
mouth; massive hump at the top of the
neck
 Horns on both sexes
 Slate-gray to yellow-brown
 Length: 11 feet 4 inches to 13 feet 4
inches
 Height: 5 feet 4 inches to 6 feet 2
inches
 Weight: 3,740 to 5,060 pounds
 Habitat: Savannas with shade trees,
water holes, and mud wallows
 Breeding: 1 calf born in March or April
 Nearly pure grazer
 Forms peer groups; males defend
territories
 Out of
Africa
Safari at
Cape Buffalo African Elephant Kruger
National
 Massive animal with short neck, ox-like  Largest land mammal
barrel shape, and short legs  Length: 22 feet 8 inches to 25 feet
 Horns on both sexes and flaring to the (includes outstretched trunk)
side  Weight: 6,600 to 11,000 lbs.


Length: 8 feet to 11 feet 14 inches
Height: 4 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 4
inches



Tusks diverge and curve forward
Huge ears
Habitat: Rain forests to deserts,
Park
 Weight: 1,100 to 1,540 pounds swamps, and seashores
 Habitat: Savanna, near water  Breeding: 1 calf born after gestation of
 Breeding: Year round in some areas; 22 months
seasonal in others; 1 calf after 11  Cohesive herd of 9 to 11 females and

In search of the

5
months’ gestation calves
 Sociable and stay in herds  Males leave at 12 years and wander
 Bulls past their prime associate in alone or live with other males

BIG
bachelor groups or alone