podcastsinenglish Level 2.163 The big five
Oct 29, 2020
Explore the fascinating concept of the 'Big Five' as the hosts compare iconic mammals from Africa to Europe's impressive wildlife. Discover Africa's celebrated Big Five — lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant. Learn about the UK's largest wild mammal, the majestic red deer, and delve into the impressive story of the European bison's comeback from near-extinction. The conversation also highlights the return of brown bears, wolves, and lynxes in Europe, and discusses the complexities around rewilding in the UK and its impact on local communities.
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What The Big Five Actually Are
- The African "Big Five" are considered the most iconic and impressive safari animals rather than just the biggest.
- They are the lion, leopard, water buffalo, rhino and elephant, not hippo or giraffe.
Red Deer And European Bison
- Richard guesses the UK's largest wild animal is the red deer, and the host confirms him.
- The European bison is mainland Europe's largest land mammal and was once extinct in the wild.
Rewilding Success Across Europe
- Europe has large populations of formerly rare mammals due to rewilding and conservation efforts.
- There are roughly 7,000 European bison, 17,000 brown bears, 12,000 wolves and 9,000 lynx across Europe.