Africa is home to some of the world’s most incredible animals. These big, beautiful creatures are some of the most coveted wildlife trophies in the world and make for some amazing photos.
There are a number of African animals that are endangered or vulnerable, particularly large and dangerous species, which are being hunted by professional hunters and poachers.
The Big Five
Lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard are Africa’s “Big Five” and they are a major drawcard for safari goers. Originally, these were the animals that were considered to be the most dangerous to hunt on foot – hence the term. Though not in Africa, it is also TBH pretty interesting to see the largest bear ever record.
The Big Five are also of great concern for wildlife conservationists as hunting and poaching have led to drastic declines in their population numbers. Today, most of the Big Five are listed as vulnerable or critically endangered by the IUCN.
The African savanna elephant is the largest land mammal in the world, reaching up to 3 metres in height and weighing up to 7 tons. They communicate across large distances at a low frequency that cannot be heard by humans, but are still threatened by ivory poaching for their tusks.
The Giraffe
The Giraffe is the tallest land mammal and one of the largest members of the family Artiodactyla. They are social animals that live in herds and use their prehensile tongues to forage for food at heights that other herbivores can’t reach.
The giraffe has two distinct hair-covered horns on its head called ossicones. Male giraffes use these to spar and fight to establish dominance in their herd – SMH.
They are also social animals and will form tight herds of up to 15 individuals. Females and their calves spend much of the day together and will often spend the night as well.
The giraffe can make noises such as moos, roars and whistles that are used to communicate with other herd members. Although these noises may not seem to be that important they can help the giraffe to locate and navigate around danger.
The White Rhinoceros
The White Rhinoceros is one of Africa’s largest mammals. It weighs more than 4,000 pounds and stands 5 to 6 feet tall at the shoulder.
The rhino has a stout body, thick skin, and two horns growing from its snout. The front horn is longer and bigger, while the inner horn is shorter and smaller.
These horns don’t have a bony core like other mammal horns, but rather contain keratin-like material that’s found in the horns of giraffes and elephants.
White rhinos live in savannahs and grasslands, where they eat the plants’ seeds and spread them through their urine. Dominant bulls mark their territory by laying dung in well-defined piles. They also spray urine to show other rhinos their territory.
The Hippopotamus
The Hippopotamus is a large, semi-aquatic mammal that can be found in rivers and lakes across Africa. They are related to whales, and they are the largest land artiodactyl species in the world.
The hippopotamus is characterized by a barrel-shaped body, large mouth with canine teeth, and nearly hairless skin. It is also one of the largest mammals on earth, with an adult weighing up to 3,200 kg (3.5 tons).
The hippopotamus is also a social animal, living in loose polygynous herds consisting of several adult females with a dominant male. The alpha male establishes a territorial area and guards it from other males. During mating season, hippos form a herd of about 10-30 individuals. The herd usually consists of a female, her calf, and the dominant male.
The Honey Badger
A mustelid that lives in Africa, India, and the Middle East, the Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis) is a fierce carnivore with ferocious defensive abilities. They eat a variety of animals, including snakes, scorpions, birds, insects, and small mammals. Like the jaguar, this creature is very dangerous.
The honey badger’s coat is mostly black with a wide white stripe that runs down the back from head to tail tip. That 2-tone coat protects the honey badger’s skin and allows it to move easily, according to Africa Geographic.
They also dig burrows, a natural skill that enables them to hide when predators approach. These strong and fast diggers can dig a burrow in minutes, sometimes right into the ground or in a tree trunk. Using their long claws, they scavenge for their food underground and rip it up to eat.
