As mentioned in my first post on “What are the Big 5”, I began this short series of blog posts by thinking of myself as visiting South Africa for the first time or Africa for an African Safari Tour.
I would want to know what on earth this term Big 5 is all about.
Before we start, if you missed “What are the Big 5 Part 1 – African Buffalo click text”
Well the simple answer is that the term “Big 5” originates from hunters. As you can imagine if you were going to hunt animals for food there would be no point in hunting a Lion or Elephant. Well, we don’t generally eat predators either and Elephant we what on earth are we going to do with all the meat?
So generally, if we were hunting for food, we would hunt things like, Kudu, Nyala, Warthog, Zebra, Eland, Impala and Wildebeest. Neither of these animals are difficult or dangerous to hunt with a firearm.
So, this is where it all evolved, the Big 5 the five most dangerous animals to hunt on foot! And who are these animals? Why would people hunt them? and why are they so dangerous to hunt on foot?
Below I have highlighted one of the Big 5 animals with a paragraph answering those three questions as well as adding in some of my stories and fun facts.
The Big 5, Number 1: African Lion
Hunting of Big game has become a big industry over many years, may people visit South Africa or Africa not only for an Eco-Safari Tour but also to Trophy hunt.
Of course, everything should be legit as certain things like “Canned Lion hunting” is illegal and unethical.
For this that don’t yet know what “Canned Lion hunting” is, it is basically breading Lions (which is easy to do) for the sole purpose of being shot as an adult for the “hunter” to take a Trophy home. An example of a Trophy would be the head of a Lion with a large mane etc.
Fortunately, this is illegal and there has been a big crack down on farmers who have been caught farming Lions for Trophy hunts.
