|
Zimbabwe Animals
Home to many species of animal life, Zimbabwe animals are still
abundant..
Zimbabwe with its diverse landscape is home to some of Africa's
largest game reserves but reports say several species such as impala,
warthog, kudu and wildebeest are at risk from rampant poaching by people struggling with hunger and rising poverty and from cross-border trophy
hunters.Zimbabwe's state National Parks and Wildlife Authority says
Zimbabwe animals
in its larger game reserves have not been affected by massive poaching
and remain safe. With wildlife officials saying the country's
elephant population soaring to more that 100 000 - twice as much as the
45 000 it can sustain. From our own personal experience into Zimbabwe's National Parks,
there is still abundant game, and evidence of wholesale slaughter is
just not apparent. However poaching does exist of that there is no
doubt, but as
|
"Our trip to Hwange National Park recently left us with
stunning memories of huge herds of elephants, a group of six
cheetahs, lion sighting, two wild dog, herds of sable,
impala and my personal favourite the graceful giraffe
We saw NO signs what so ever of poaching in the Hwange
National Park." |
long as efforts from certain individuals and organisations
like the Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit (VFAPU) stay intact, our
heritage can be saved. We applaud them for all that they do to save our Zimbabwe
animals.
On a
safari in Zimbabwe it would not be over expectant to see all of the "Big Five"
although the elusive Leopard may prove to be difficult
Introducing the
"Big Five" of Zimbabwe animals
The phrase Big Five game was coined by
big game hunters to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot.
The term is still used in most tourist and wildlife guides that discuss African
wildlife safaris.
The collection
consists of the Lion, the African Elephant the Cape buffalo the Leopard and the
Rhinoceros.
Zimbabwe Animals
 Lion – (family Felidae) – Panthera leo
Prides consist of a group of four to twelve related
females and one to six males, unrelated to the females.
The lion will hunt collectively and individually;
one animals sets up the charge and drives the prey toward other members
of the pride, which then pull of the ambush. Most hunting is done by the
females.
Their favoured prey is wildebeest, buffalo,
giraffe, zebra, porcupines and warthogs.
The habitat of a lion is woodland and open savanna.
|
 Elephant - (order Proboscidea)-
Loxodonta
Africana
The African elephant is the world’s largest living
land mammal. Its nose and upper lip elongated into a trunk.
Both males and females usually have a pair of tusks growing
down and forwards from their upper lip. Their ears are very large.
Elephants are almost hairless
with rough grey skin, often coloured by dust or mud. They can
stand approximately 3,2mhigh and weigh up to 5 metric tons. they
have poor eyesight and hearing but a very keen sense of smell.
Elephants can survive in a wide variety of
habitats, their main requirements being a plentiful supply of fodder and
and access to unpolluted water. They are exclusively herbivorous,
requiring up to 300kg of fodder daily. They may eat more grass in
years of good rainfall and are especially partial to the ripe fruits of
the vegetable ivory palm, the wild almond and the marula. |
 Buffalo – (family Bovidae)-Syncerus caffer
The buffalo has curved horns on both sexes that rise from heavy bosses,
spread out and downwards, then curve up and inwards. They are
brownish-grey, darkening with age. Males are heavier (up to
800kg) than females. The cows are known to be extremely aggressive
when threatened or wounded. Some herds of buffalo can go up to thousands
- and you will find both females and males in a herd together.
Buffalos are almost exclusively grazers and will graze on most grass
species. The herds split up into smaller units and disperse over wide
areas during the rainy season and regroup after the end of the rains
near permanent water supplies. |
Leopard – (family felidae) – panthera pardus
The leopard is pale yellow-gold with dark spot,
those on flanks arranged in rosettes. Their legs are strongly
built and they have a long tail. Leopards are mainly nocturnal,
especially in areas of human development. they are solitary and
very territorial. They rest in trees, thick cover or caves. Their
prey impala. bushbuck, reedbuck, monkeys, is stalked and rushed from short
range and killed by bites to back or neck, skull or throat. They
will then often hoist the carcass into a tree and feed over several
days.
A cornered or wounded leopard is one of the most
dangerous of all African mammals and will launch a fierce attack which
may prove fatal.
The leopard is common, though
elusive, throughout much of Zimbabwe, and can be found in most major
National Parks but the best-known leopard population, is in the Matobo
Hills.
|
 Rhinoceros – (family rhinocerotidae)
White – Ceratotheriumsimum and Black - Dicerosbicornis
A rhino stands up to 1,8m at the shoulder and
weighs up to 2 tons the grey-coloured white rhino is the second-largest
land animal after the elephant.
The white rhino is distinguished from the black by
its square upper lip, pronounced nuchal hump, heavier build and longer
and narrower head.
The white rhino is a grazer and
prefers fairly flat terrain with areas of short grass adjacent to dense
bush, It drinks and wallows regularly and is usually found close
to water.
The black rhinoceros is a browser usually found in
savanna woodlands and scrub, forests, riverine woodlands and dense bush,
within about 15kms of water. It is generally solitary.
Rhinos are classified under
Appendix One of the International Convention on Trade in Endangered
Species.
|
[Top
of Page]
<<Back to Facts of Zimbabwe
Return from Zimbabwe animals to our home
page
|
If you have
Enjoyed This Site.
Why not use the button below, to share us with your friends and add us to your favorite bookmarking service?
|
Recommend Car Hire
and Travel Insurance
|
