Journey of The Life

The phrase Big Five game was coined by white hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot. They consist of the lion, the African elephant, the Cape Buffalo, the leopard and the rhinoceros. The members of the big five were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved, rather than their size. They are the most difficult animals to hunt.

THE BIG FIVE SPECIES

African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is a very large herbivore having thick, almost hairless skin, a long, flexible, prehensile trunk, upper incisors forming long curved tusks of ivory, and large, fan-shaped ears. There are two distinct species of African elephant : African Forest Elephant(Loxodonta cyclotis) and the African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta
africana). The elephant is difficult because despite its large size, they are able to hide in tall grass and are more likely to charge than the other species.
Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
The Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is a large, thick-skinned herbivore having one or The African Black Rhinotwo upright horns on the nasal bridge. Rhinoceros may refer to both Black Rhinoceros and White rhinoceros. Among Big Five game hunters, the Black Rhinoceros is preferred.

Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer)
The African Buffalo or Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large horned bovid. Buffalo are sometimes reported to kill more people in Africa than any other animal, although the same The African Cape Buffaloclaim is also made of hippos and crocodiles. It is considered the most dangerous of the Big Five, reportedly causing the most hunter deaths, with wounded animals reported to ambush and attack pursuers.

Lion (Panthera leo)
The Lion (Panthera leo) is a large carnivorous feline of Africa and northwest India, having a short tawny coat, a tufted tail, and, in the male, a heavy mane around the neck and shoulders. Lions are desirable to hunters because of the very real danger involved. A lion may attack without provocation and is considered by many to be the best of the Big Five.
Lion hunting is challenging because of the habitat and temperament of the lion. Lions habituate the savanna where tall grasses, shrubs and bushes obscure and provide cover and camouflage for lions. This thick undergrowth is commonly referred to as jess. As lions are ambush hunters, they use this natural cover to stalk close as possible before making a final charge to catch their prey. Lions do not generally avoid confrontation but will usually face the challenger. Lions are unpredictable and may charge when sufficiently annoyed or confronted by danger.

Leopard (Panthera pardus)
The Leopard (Panthera pardus) is a large, carnivorous feline having either tawny fur with dark rosette-like markings or black fur. The leopard is sometimes considered the most difficult of the Big Five to hunt because of their nocturnal and secretive nature. They are wary of humans and will take flight in the face of danger. The leopard is solitary by nature. The leopard is most active between sunset and sunrise although it may hunt during the day in some areas. Leopards can be found in the savanna grasslands, brush land and forested areas in Africa.

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by Arnold Wanjau

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