I bumped into a kid born in the mid first decade of
this new millennium and asked her to name me Kenya’s Big Five. Her answers were
just amazing and hilarious. One was a
Jumbo Jet, second was Mt.Kenya, Third Thika road… *head scratch* oops! Could
not even complete her own big five list. I’d not blame her because; I also came
to quote the big five confidently after I joined campus.
Here are the ‘Big Five’:
- Lion - Simba
- Leopard - Chui
- Elephant - Ndovu/Tembo
- Buffalo - Mbogo
- Rhino – Kifaru
LION
The
most famous predator in this category is the lion. The largest of the great
cats in Africa, they spend a lot resting in the shade. When the pride goes off
to look for food at dusk or dawn, it is mostly the female who does all the
hunting. Sometimes, males drive the prey towards the concealed females who then
do the actual killing. They live on the savannahs in prides of one to three
males and up to 15 females. Young cubs enjoy a lot bugging their moms.
Lions basking
LEOPARD
The
leopard lives a solitary life except during the mating season. The beauty of
the dark spots against the rich gold background belie the power these cats can
muster if necessary, and it is indeed very hard to find them. Generally
considered nocturnal, the best place to find them is in rocky hills, high in
tree branches or in the thick woodland brushes. They drag their kill to the top
of a tree where they can be assured that no scavenger will find.
ELEPHANT
An
elephant can live up to between 60 to 70 years and eats vast amounts of green
material to survive daily. Elephants roam in close knit herds with the
matriarch in charge. Younger and older bulls live alone, away from the herd.
These large beasts flap their ears to cool themselves. When ear flapping is
combined with snorting however, it’s usually a sign of agitation and a good
time to put some distance between you and them. Elephants communicate with each
other with a number of sounds and over long distances. They can quickly adapt
from open plains to thick forests and are constantly on the move for food and
shelter.
Elephants at a water point
BUFFALO
The
African buffalo has a bad temper reputation if disturbed. The huge ox-like
creatures have some very heavy, dangerous horns and have no shame in using them
to get rid of any kind of pest, humans included. They can easily be spotted
near water and also in Savannah areas, like the Masai Mara. Large herds gather
on open grasslands and smaller groups tend to congregate in thick forest. They
are also known to chase Lions seeking to prey on their young ones and it is an
incredible event to witness.
Buffalo grazing
RHINO
There
are two rhino species, the black and the white. Both species are extremely
rare. Their habitats vary from dense forest to open scrub where they feed on
the leaves of bushes and trees. They lack good eyesight but have excellent
sense of smell and hearing. Their lifespan is 35 to 40 years and weigh up to 2
tons. Both the black and white rhino have two horns, of which, the longer sits
at the front of the nose. The closest rhino relationship is between a female
and her calf, lasting from 2 to 4 years.
For
more pics and info on the ‘BIG FIVE’ and other
‘small many’ visit AWF
