In Africa, the Big Five game animals are the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo. The term "Big Five" was created by big-game hunters to describe the five animals that are hardest to hunt on foot. The history of hunting these animals began at the end of the 19th century during colonial times. Today, these animals are still hunted, but they are more often seen as attractions for ecotourists and safari tour operators. Hunting Big Five animals can be profitable for game preserves, which can help with conservation efforts. However, there are challenges to this practice. All Big Five species are examples of popular and well-known large animals. They appear often in popular culture and are among the most famous large animals in Africa.
This article explains the Big Five game species and their IUCN conservation status. It also discusses the history of hunting these animals, how they are hunted today, and the effects of hunting on their populations. Other sections of the article explore the cultural importance of the Big Five and how hunting them contributes to conservation efforts.
Big Five species
The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest living land animal found in 24 African countries and many different environments. It is also called the African savannah elephant. This species is listed as endangered by the IUCN. Both male and female elephants have tusks, which are used to make ivory products and are sought after by hunters as trophies.
Two types of African rhinoceros are part of the Big Five: the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) and the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis). Each has several subspecies. These animals live in savanna and grassland areas of southern and eastern Africa. The white rhinoceros is listed as near threatened by the IUCN, and the black rhinoceros is listed as critically endangered. Both species have two horns made of keratin, which are desired by hunters for trophies and used in traditional Chinese medicine.
The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large bovid with horns. Four subspecies are recognized, and they live in various habitats across central and southern Africa. The IUCN lists the species as near threatened, with a declining population. People once hunted them for food, but now their large horns are a popular target for trophy hunting.
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a large carnivore found in many habitats across Africa and Asia, including forests, plains, deserts, and mountains. The IUCN lists the species as vulnerable, with a declining population. Leopards are hunted because they are large predators and are seen as dangerous.
The lion (Panthera leo) is a large carnivore found in Africa and a small population in the Gir Forest of northwestern India. The IUCN lists the species as threatened. Lions are important top predators with cultural significance. They are popular among safari tourists and are hunted because they are seen as dangerous.
Hunting history
Historically, African elephants have been hunted and killed mainly for sport and their ivory (tusks). Elephant hunting began in the late 1800s and early 1900s when European explorers and hunters traveled to Africa. During this time, big game hunting became popular. In the late 1890s, hunters raided countries like Namibia, causing large drops in elephant numbers. People who worked in the hunting industry often traded elephant tusks for food and supplies. As hunting technology improved, such as the use of modern guns, hunting became more efficient and spread across Africa. The demand for ivory products, like carved items and piano keys, grew quickly, creating a valuable industry that increased pressure on elephant populations.
Hunting elephants also had symbolic meaning during the colonial era. It was linked to European imperialism and was seen as a way to show strength, skill, and control over nature. These ideas made hunting popular among elite groups. Throughout the 20th century, elephant numbers dropped further due to both legal hunting and illegal poaching for ivory.
Rhinoceroses were once very common in Africa, with about 500,000 animals in the early 1900s. In the 1830s, large numbers of black rhinoceroses were reported in Southern Africa, though many were hunted. By 1906, officials in Kenya were already worried about rhinoceroses being killed too quickly. By 1932, experts feared rhinoceroses might go extinct because they were being killed faster than they could reproduce. By the 1960s, very few black rhinoceroses remained south of the Zambezi and Kunene rivers. In 2011, the Western black rhinoceros was declared extinct by the IUCN, mainly due to poaching.
Rhinos are also hunted for their horns, which are valuable. The price of rhino horn rose from $550 per kilogram in 1979 to $60,000 per kilogram today. Poaching is driven by illegal trade in Asian markets, where rhino horn is believed to have medicinal benefits. Legal hunting of black and white rhinos happens in small numbers in South Africa and Namibia. Between 1972 and 2018, 2,538 white rhinos were hunted in South Africa and 61 in Namibia. Between 2005 and 2018, 47 black rhinos were hunted in South Africa and 12 in Namibia. In contrast, 6,087 rhinos were poached in South Africa and Namibia between 2013 and 2017, compared to 423 legally hunted rhinos during the same time.
Buffalo were once highly valued by Indigenous communities for food. In the early 1800s, Indigenous tribes in Africa controlled buffalo hunting and set rules for visitors. Leaders of these groups managed hunting to protect buffalo populations. When European countries colonized Africa, settlers took over hunting management and hunted buffalo more aggressively. Settlers also expanded farming and livestock industries, leading to habitat loss and the spread of diseases like Rinderpest, which killed many buffalo in the 1880s.
Buffalo were not always protected because they were common. However, by the late 1800s, hunters realized the harm of uncontrolled hunting and created the first African hunting reserves. For example, Selous Game Reserve, started in 1896, was expanded to protect animals and now has the largest buffalo population in the world. Today, buffalo are hunted less for food but more for their horns, which are popular trophies. Between 2005 and 2015, 4,200 buffalo trophies were imported into the USA from countries like South Africa and Swaziland.
Leopards have been hunted for their fur and for use in traditional medicines and ceremonies. Their bones, teeth, claws, and fat are used in some African traditions.
Big cats like leopards have also been killed because they sometimes attack people or livestock. During the colonial era, hunters like Jim Corbett and Kenneth Anderson in India hunted leopards. In South Africa, 133 leopards were killed between 1920 and 1922. Between 2004 and 2006, 120 leopard trophies were exported from South Africa each year. The impact of trophy hunting on leopards is still unclear. Leopards make up 8-20% of trophy hunting revenue in eastern and southern Africa. Hunting lions has led to a situation called "mesopredator release," where the loss of lions (apex predators) allows leopards (mesopredators) to increase in number, possibly hiding the effects of hunting.
Leopards now live in only about 37% of their original African range, with some estimates as low as 25%. This is a larger loss than average for large carnivores worldwide. Hunting and habitat loss are major causes. Twelve African countries still export leopard skins under quotas set by CITES. Tanzania is the most popular country for leopard hunting and exports about 303 leopard trophies each year.
Lions were hunted by European colonists in the late 1800s and early 1900s. British and other European hunters saw lions as symbols of courage and prestige. Early safari accounts describe lion hunting as a major achievement. Lions were also hunted because they sometimes attacked people or livestock. A famous example is the two man-eating lions of Tsavo, who killed about 35 people in 1898 and were later hunted by John Henry Patterson. This behavior is rare.
Lion hunting continues today in parts of Africa under regulated trophy hunting. Many countries use hunting quotas to control how many lions are killed. However, there is debate about whether this hunting is sustainable.
Contemporary hunting
The main reason people hunt the "Big Five" animals in Africa for trophies is because of demand from hunters in Europe and North America. This demand started long ago during colonial times, when hunters used hunting large animals as a way to show pride and importance. Today, even though international hunters help provide income for some African countries that allow trophy hunting, it still causes discussion about whether it is right and if foreign hunters should be allowed to hunt wildlife for profit.
Trophy hunting happens in 23 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and is a major part of the economy. It brings in at least $201 million each year. In South Africa, trophy hunting adds more than $341 million to the national economy each year and supports over 17,000 jobs.
In recent decades, hunting of the Big Five has been managed through rules like permits, limits on how many animals can be hunted, and protected areas in many African countries. Permits and limits are used to control how many animals are hunted each year while still helping fund wildlife management and conservation efforts. Most legal trophy hunting takes place in special game reserves, where hunters must follow rules set by the government to prevent overhunting.
Despite these rules, illegal hunting, called poaching, still happens and harms many Big Five species. Poaching is driven by high demand for wildlife products like elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn. This illegal hunting has greatly reduced the numbers of these animals. Studies show that poaching also changes how animals behave. For example, elephants may change where they travel if they sense hunting activity and avoid areas where they are more likely to be hunted.
Regulated hunting is still a topic of debate, especially for species like lions. Countries that allow hunting programs say they are trying to balance protecting animals with the money earned from hunting. Rules can include limits on the age of animals hunted and how many can be taken each year. However, research shows that poorly managed hunting programs, especially those that target adult male animals, can harm wildlife populations if hunting limits are not carefully watched and followed.
Because of these issues, efforts to protect the Big Five usually include a mix of controlled hunting, stopping poaching, protecting habitats, and limiting the trade of wildlife products internationally.
Cultural impact
The Big Five animals have been important in many cultures around the world for a long time. They often appear in ancient cave paintings, showing that they have been meaningful to African communities for centuries. The Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania see elephants as similar to humans in some ways. They call elephants "Arkanjowe," which means powerful beings.
The rhinoceros was important to the Bantu-speaking people of southern Africa, where it represented leadership. A famous artifact, the Golden Rhinoceros of Mapungubwe (1220–1300), was seen as a symbol of sacred royal power in one of Africa’s earliest known states. The title "rhinoceros horn" was used to respectfully address Venda chiefs during important meetings.
The African buffalo is considered a sacred symbol by several groups, including the Shona, Tsonga, Sotho, and Venda. These communities have rules against killing or eating the buffalo. The Bisa people of Zambia believe the buffalo is strong and dangerous, with great spiritual power. In West Africa, masks shaped like buffaloes are used in ceremonies and dances, showing the connection between the wild and human worlds.
In many African kingdoms, leopards and lions were linked to royalty and power. Traditionally, only kings could own leopard or lion skins and teeth because these items were highly valued. They were used in special ceremonial clothing, originally worn only by royalty. Over time, leopard and lion skin garments have become more common for people of all classes to wear during religious events. Sundiata Keita, the founder of the Mali Empire, was called "Mari-Jata," meaning "Lion of Mali." In Dahomey, the royal family was believed to be descended from a leopard. Among the Yoruba, kings were sometimes called "son of leopard." Leopards also appeared in bronze art from the Benin Empire. Recently, some communities have started making fake fur leopard skin clothing to reduce harm to real leopards while keeping their traditions alive.
Today, the Big Five animals are well-known worldwide. Their popularity has led groups like the IUCN to create similar "Big Five" lists for other countries and regions. As nature-based tourism grows, the Big Five are a major attraction in African countries. Kruger National Park, South Africa’s first and most popular national park, receives over one million visitors each year. It supports up to 600,000 people living nearby. Studies show that seeing the Big Five animals is a key reason many tourists visit the park.
Use of trophy hunting in conservation
Trophy hunting has caused harm to animal populations in the past, but today, it is sometimes used to help protect wildlife in African countries. Money from trophy hunting and the tourists it brings can support conservation projects and encourage hunters to care about the future of these animals. However, using trophy hunting for conservation is a topic of debate among scientists. Some people say the practice is based on old, human-centered ideas from Western countries and should not be part of conservation efforts. Others agree that trophy hunting can provide funds for conservation but point out that it can harm animals and communities by changing ecosystems and natural selection when hunters target animals with large "trophies."
On the other hand, some experts say trophy hunting helps protect wildlife by preserving important habitats and creating less pollution than ecotourism. They also suggest that problems with trophy hunting often come from corruption in the organizations managing it. Additionally, people living in areas where trophy hunting is allowed through community-based conservation programs often benefit from the income and food it provides. Allowing trophy hunting has also made people more accepting of large predators like lions and leopards near villages and farms, reducing the number of predators killed because of fear. In Kenya, for example, people were more willing to accept large predators if they could earn money from trophy hunting.