Page 56 - World of Animals - Issue #41

Come face to face with

an African elephant

The most iconic African animal and the largest of the elephant
family, the African elephant is one of the most beautiful sights of the
savannah. These incredible animals can be seen in all national parks
and reserves across South Africa, but there is nothing quite like having
a close encounter with these giants. African elephants are huge; they
are up to four metres (13.1 feet) tall and weigh around 6.5 tons – that’s
half the weight of a double-decker bus! An animal of such heft needs
to eat a lot to maintain such a giant body, pushing over trees to get to
the juiciest leaves and eating over 300 kilograms (661 pounds) per day.
Elephants are incredibly social and intelligent animals, and are known
for their huge tusks and excellent memory. Sadly, their distinctive tusks,
which grow for most of their life and indicate age, are the main reason that
eight per cent of elephants are poached. In 1920 there were just 120
individuals left in South Africa, but now over 10,000 can be found in the
Kruger National Park alone, thanks to thriving conservation efforts to reduce
poaching and habitat loss. Visit between September and December to spot
elephant calves, and take a safari drive or guided walk through one of the many
national parks or reserves to get up close to these majestic giants.

Spy on some

thirsty rhinos

With over 75 per cent of the world’s rhino
population living in South Africa, your
‘Big Five’ checklist wouldn’t be complete
without these lovable creatures. South
Africa has two species of rhino, the
Critically Endangered black rhino, and
the white rhino. Sadly, poaching is at
a critical level in South Africa as even
protected areas are not completely safe,
despite efforts from the government
to combat the issue. However, the
white rhino has been brought back
from the brink of extinction and now
flourishes in the Kruger National Park
and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park, and
so conservation efforts now turn towards
the black rhino.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi has become a rhino
refuge, and was founded specifically to
protect the world’s remaining population
of white rhinos. The Rhino Sanctuary in
the park has increased population
numbers and led to the relocation
of several rhinos to help repopulate other
parts of Africa. Here, orphaned rhino
calves are also cared for and reared
before being introduced back to the
wild. To see rhinos in their natural habitat,
wallowing in the mud, scratching up
against trees and drinking from the water
holes, take a guided tour of the park, 10 per cent of our profits
where you can get a closer look from the help fight poaching. Learn
many hides overlooking the water holes. more and donate at
www.animalanswers.co.uk

56

054-061_WOA041 ExplorethEarth_SouthAfrica.indd 56 30/11/2016 17:52