Editing Big Five game

{{short description|African game-hunting species}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
[[File:Big five gam.jpg|thumb|300px|The Big Five]]
In [[Africa]], the '''Big Five game''' animals are the [[lion]], [[leopard]], [[rhinoceros]], [[elephant]], and [[African buffalo]].<ref name="capstick-safari">{{cite book|last=Capstick|first=Peter H.|title=Safari, the last adventure|year=1984|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-69657-3|page=148|quote=Generally known as the "Big Five," the group we're talking about comprises lion, leopard, elephant, Cape buffalo and rhino, although not necessarily in that order.}}<!--|access-date=1 October 2010--></ref> The term was coined by [[big–game hunting|big-game hunters]] to refer to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot,<ref name="About" /><ref name="capstick-dark">{{cite book|last=Capstick|first=Peter H.|title=Death in the Dark Continent|year=1983|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-18615-9|page=13|quote=No human being could begin to outrun any of the big five, nor would he last more than a few seconds in any contest of strength.}}<!--|access-date=1 October 2010--></ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Du Toit|first=Richard|title=Africa's Big Five|year=2001|publisher=[[Penguin Random House|Struik Publishers]]|isbn=978-1-86872-582-3}}</ref> but is now more widely used by game viewing tourists and [[safari]] tour operators.<ref>{{cite web |title=Understanding and Protecting the Big Five in South Africa |url=https://www.goeco.org/article/understand-the-big-five-in-south-africa |website=goeco.org |access-date=14 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="About">{{cite web | last = Zijlma | first = Anouk | title= The Big Five: Index | work = Africa for Visitors | publisher = [[About.com]] | url = http://goafrica.about.com/library/bl.bigfive.index.htm | access-date = 2006-12-29  | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070209033821/http://goafrica.about.com/library/bl.bigfive.index.htm| archive-date= 9 February 2007| url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Marsea |title=Ten Wild Facts about the "Big Five" |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/good-nature-travel/posts/ten-wild-facts-about-the-big-five |website=www.worldwildlife.org |publisher=worldwildlife.org |access-date=14 December 2018}}</ref> They are examples of [[charismatic megafauna]], featuring prominently in popular culture, and are among the most famous of Africa's large animals. 

The 1990 and later releases of [[South African rand]] [[banknote]]s feature a different big-five animal on each denomination. Countries where all can be found include [[Angola]], [[Botswana]], the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Eswatini]], [[Kenya]], [[Malawi]], [[Mozambique]], [[Namibia]], [[Rwanda]], [[South Africa]], [[Tanzania]], [[Uganda]], [[Zambia]] and [[Zimbabwe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-articles/lonely-planets-best-in-travel-2014-top-10-countries|title=Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2014 - top 10 countries|first=Lonely|last=Planet|date=28 October 2013|website=lonelyplanet.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ugandatravelblog.com/news/rhinos-return-rwanda-10-years/|title=Rhinos Return to Rwanda's Akagera National Park after 10 Years|date=2 May 2017|website=ugandatravelblog.com|access-date=2 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720140057/http://ugandatravelblog.com/news/rhinos-return-rwanda-10-years/|archive-date=20 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Species==
===Elephant===
[[File:Elephant Kruger 2003.jpg|right|thumb|[[African bush elephant]] (''Loxodonta africana'')]]
The [[African bush elephant]] (''Loxodonta africana'') and the [[African forest elephant]] (''Loxodonta cyclotis'') are the largest extant land-based animals. Elephants are [[herbivore]]s with thick, almost hairless skin; a long, flexible, prehensile trunk; upper [[incisor]]s forming long, curved, [[ivory]] tusks; and large, fan-shaped ears. Elephants are difficult to hunt because, despite their large size, they are able to hide in thick bush and are more likely to charge than the other Big Five species. They become aggressive when their young are threatened.<ref>{{cite book|title=Fodor's African Safari, 1st Edition: From Budget to Big Spending Where and How to Find the Best Big Game Adventure in Southern and Eastern Africa|year=2004|publisher=Fodor's|isbn=978-1-4000-1234-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/fodorsafricansaf0000unse/page/142 142]|url=https://archive.org/details/fodorsafricansaf0000unse/page/142}}</ref>

===Rhinoceros===
[[File:Black rhinos in crater.jpg|right|thumb|[[Black rhinoceros]] (''Diceros bicornis'')]]
The [[black rhinoceros]] (''Diceros bicornis'') and the [[white rhinoceros]] (''Ceratotherium simum'') are large herbivores with two upright horns on their nasal bridge. The black rhino is classified as [[critically endangered]] and the white rhino as [[near threatened]], and both are subject to extensive poaching. Among big-five game hunters, the black rhinoceros is more highly prized.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Current Zoology|url=http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/141/1412127994.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127143346/http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/141/1412127994.pdf |archive-date=27 January 2022 |access-date=|website=}}</ref> The current existing rhinos throughout the savanna are [[southern white rhinoceros]], [[eastern black rhinoceros]], [[south-western black rhinoceros]] and [[south-central black rhinoceros]].

===African buffalo===
[[File:African Buffalo.JPG|right|thumb|[[African buffalo]] (''Syncerus caffer'')]]
The [[African buffalo]] (''Syncerus caffer'') is a large [[Horn (anatomy)|horned]] [[bovid]]. It is the only animal among the Big Five that is not on the "endangered" or "threatened" list.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.on-the-matrix.com/africa/buffalo.asp|first = Bruce G.|last = Stumpf|title = Africa on the Matrix: The Cape Buffalo|access-date = 2010-10-23|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021220101633/http://on-the-matrix.com/africa/buffalo.asp|archive-date = 20 December 2002|url-status = dead}}</ref> The Cape buffalo (''Syncerus caffer caffer'') is considered by many to be the most dangerous of any of the Big Five:<ref>{{cite book|last=Wieland|first=Terry|title=Dangerous-Game Rifles|year=2006|publisher=Countrysport Press|isbn=978-0-89272-691-2|page=286}}</ref> buffalos have reportedly been known to ambush and attack humans.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.safaribwana.com/ANIMALS/animpages/buffalo.htm|title = African Animals Hunting facts and tips - Buffalo Hunting|publisher = safariBwana newsletter|access-date = 2010-10-23|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130708213845/http://www.safaribwana.com/ANIMALS/animpages/buffalo.htm|archive-date = 8 July 2013|url-status = dead}}</ref>

===Lion===
[[File:Lion waiting in Namibia crop.jpg|right|thumb|[[Lion]] (''Panthera leo'')]]
The [[lion]] (''Panthera leo'') is a large, carnivorous [[Felidae|feline]] found in both Africa and northwestern [[India]]. It has a short, tawny coat; a tufted tail; and, in the male, a heavy [[mane (lion)|mane]] around the neck and shoulders. As a large and charismatic [[apex predator]] with cultural significance, lions are among the most popular species to view on safari tours.<ref>{{cite book|last=Capstick|first=Peter H.|title=Safari, the last adventure|year=1984|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-69657-3|page=165}}<!--|access-date=1 October 2010--></ref><ref name="safaribwana.lion">{{Cite web |url=http://www.safaribwana.com/ANIMALS/animpages/lion.htm |title=African Lion |work=safaribwana.com |access-date=1 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416070239/http://www.safaribwana.com/ANIMALS/animpages/lion.htm |archive-date=16 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shakariconnection.com/unpleasant-truth-about-canned-shooting.html |title=Unpleasant Truth About Canned Shooting |last1=Robinson |first1=Steve  |year=2008 |work=shakariconnection.com |publisher=Shakari Connection |access-date=2 October 2010}}</ref>

===Leopard===
[[File:Leopard (Panthera pardus) male ... (51890626416).jpg|right|thumb|[[African leopard]] (''Panthera pardus'')]]
The [[leopard]] (''Panthera pardus'') is a large, carnivorous feline. Its fur is generally tawny with dark rosette-shaped markings. The leopard is the most seldom seen of the Big Five because of its nocturnal habits (it is most active between sunset and sunrise, although it may hunt during the day in some areas), and because it is wary of humans and will take flight in the face of danger. Leopards can be located in the grasslands, dense brushes, deserts, and forested areas of African savannas.

==Conservation status==
Africa's Big Five have become major concerns for wildlife conservationists in recent years. The African lion and African leopard are both classified as [[Vulnerable species|vulnerable]]. The African savanna elephant is listed as [[endangered]] by the IUCN as of 2021. The [[southern white rhinoceros]] and [[African buffalo]] are classified as [[near threatened]] while the [[black rhinoceros]] is classified as [[Critically endangered species|critically endangered]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/6557/0|title=Diceros bicornis}}</ref>[[File:Big Five Game.jpg|thumb|The big five in art]]

==See also==
* [[Charismatic megafauna]]
* [[Elephant gun]]
* [[Hunting]]
* [[Game (hunting)]]
* [[Big-game hunting]]
* [[Little five game]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wiktionary|big game}}

* [https://anywhereweroam.com/african-safari-animals/ 20 Incredible African Safari Animals & Where to See Them]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100508225941/http://namastesouthafrica.com/2010/05/03/do-you-know-the-big-five/ Weight, diet, life span and other lifestyle details of the Big Five]

{{Hunting topics}}

[[Category:Mammals of Africa|.]]
[[Category:Hunting]]
[[Category:Tourism in Africa]]
[[Category:5 (number)]]