

It may have to do with competition for food.Ī single, adult male lion can kill a young elephant-a fact which elephants know quite well. Rhinos are quite commonly killed by elephants, particularly young bull elephants. Just as elephants and lions have some animosity toward each other, so do elephants and rhinos. Some weak, injured and old rhino adults have reportedly been killed by the felines, but rhino calves are the main targets. Lions are also the natural predators of rhinoceroses, even though they rarely attack adults. The experience and leadership of these older elephants often save their followers’ lives. If they hear recordings of male roars, the older elephants are more likely to usher their herds into defensive formations. In fact, in a 2011 study, researchers found that older matriarchs-the females who lead elephant herds-are more mindful than younger matriarchs of the threat posed by male lions. The elephants are highly aware of this reality. Male lions are effective killers: a single male can overpower a young elephant, and just two males could take down an adult. ©JULIAN MASON, flickr Elephants and lions But they are still critically endangered. Since then, the species has made a tremendous comeback to more than 5,000 today. In 1995, the world had less than 2,500 black rhinos. For example, elephants are no friends of lions, who, aside from humans, are the only predators powerful enough to kill an elephant.Īnd that’s why you’ll find the video footage below so surprising. Since all of the Big Five are megafauna that sometimes compete for scarce resources in the same territory and that daily play out the predator-prey drama, you can imagine why not a lot of love is lost between these species. Its kinder, more modern meaning indicates seeing the Big Five-not shooting them-during an African wildlife safari. Then, it referenced the animals-Cape buffalo (or African buffalo), elephants, leopards, lions and rhinoceroses-that trophy hunters considered to be the most challenging and dangerous to hunt on foot. The term Africa’s Big Five means something quite different today than it did when it was coined in the late 1800s during the continent’s colonial period. Here, you can see Africa’s Big Five: Cape buffalo, leopards, lions, rhinoceroses and elephants.

Kenya is world-renowned for its abundant wildlife, most of which can be found in national parks and reserves.
