African Elephant
For the seasoned
safari hunter, African elephants can be a shooter’s most challenging and
dangerous target. African elephants differ from their Chinese or Indian
counterparts both in size and in temper.
Males can stand up
to 13 ft tall and weigh over 7,000 lbs and both males and females have large
tusks that can measure 8ft and weigh nearly 100 lbs. They are also highly intelligent creatures with brains strikingly
similar to that of humans’ in both structure and complexity.
Now, merge their
weight, size and intelligence and you get “elephant rage”. Elephants have been
known to attack villages and go on human killing rampages (mostly when
provoked).
They are fearless
and highly protective of their young ones and herds. They can be very vengeful
and will charge at 15 mph to trample you into the ground if they feel
threatened.
Rhinoceros (Rhinocerotidae)
A rhino’s size and
speed once made it one of the most dangerous animals to hunt. Due to excessive
poaching however, all five specie of rhinoceros are now threatened with
extinction, with the exception of the White Rhino which can be hunted in South
Africa and Nambia. These brawny beasts can measure 6ft and weigh 1 to 4 tons.
Despite their weight, rhinos can charge at speeds of 30 mph.
And even though
they are such large creatures they are very good at making themselves
“disappear”. Big Game hunters consider them one of the most difficult and
frustrating game to hunt.
Hippopotamus
If you don’t
associate “hippo” with “vicious, aggressive man-killer”, you are clearly not
watching enough Animal Planet. Hippos kill more humans than
any other animal in Africa (second to disease-carrying mosquitoes). Hippos are
extremely territorial, highly unpredictable, and notorious for tipping boats
that make the mistake of infiltrating their patch of water. What makes them
most deadly however, is their bite. A hippo’s mouth can open 180 degrees. When
it opens this wide it means the hippo feels threatened. Which means, so should
you.
One chomp from one
of these monstrous water Goliaths can have 1,821 lbs of bite force! Their
canines and sharp incisors (which they sharpen as they grind) can reach 20
inches in length.
Get in the way of
the their water, or calf, and you are up against a whopping 8000 pounds of bull
rage that can charge at 18 to 30 mph!
Cape Buffalo
Also known as Black
Death, the Cape Buffalo can be extremely dangerous, and is said to have killed
more big game hunters than any other animal in Africa. An impressive creature,
males can reach heights of 6ft and weigh a hefty 1, 750 lbs. A record-sized savannah-type
male actually weighed 2,200 lb!
Cape Buffalo is
most aggressive when it has been wounded, or, if one of the calves from the
herd is under attack. Since the average shooting distance on a Cape buffalo is
between 20 and 60 yards, be prepared to run like hell if your shot doesn’t
bring it down.
An angry buffalo
will circle and stalk its prey, waiting for the perfect moment to tear apart
its opponent with its massive, thick horns. Cape Buffalo are also known to
engage in mobbing behavior when fighting off predators.
Now, think about an
angry mob of Cape Buffaloes charging at you at speeds of up to 35 mph. When
you’re this scary, they call you Black Death.
Nile Crocodiles
A reported 200
people die in the jaws of the Nile croc every year, though many estimates say
that number could be much higher. Crocodiles can move very fast over short
distances, in and out of water. Once they catch you, their gaping mouths filled
with 68 frighteningly sharp, banana-shaped teeth, bite down at a force of 5,000
pounds per square inch. The strongest bite of any animal.
The only way to
outsmart the croc is to play on his weakness, which- curious enough- is his
mouth. The muscles responsible for opening its mouth are very weak, meaning,
that if you’re ever wrestling a crocodile, your best chance at survival is to
keep its trap shut. Then, find a stick to hold its mouth open, so that when you
eventually do let go, you won’t be the first thing he bites down on.
Bears
Given a bear’s
size, diet and claws, the dangers in hunting this type of game are high. Kodiak
bears are among the most perilous bears to hunt, not only because they are so
large and strong (the largest of brown bears) but because of the rough
conditions of the Alaskan Archipelago, where they reside. Kodiaks are highly
intelligent and have a keen sense of smell that can track a human from very far
distances. Male Kodiaks can range between 800 and 1500 lbs, have very large,
sharp claws and tower over at 7 to 9 ½ ft.
Tip: Never run from
a bear. They are much faster than you. Hide in a tree.
Wild Boar
Experienced hunters
say that wild boar can be even more dangerous to hunt than a bear. Equipped
with thick, razor-sharp tusks, and a razor-sharp mind (hogs are the 4th most
intelligent animal in the world) a wild boar can weigh a staggering 660 lbs and
exhibit extremely aggressive and unpredictable behaviour.
Hunters be warned!
After wounding a boar, give the animal plenty of time before you follow it in
to the bush. Otherwise, you’ll go from being the hunter to the hunted. Boars
will circle a human adversary, charge rampantly and attack from behind.
A survival tip:
Pick your tree ahead of time so you can climb out of harm’s way if ever you’re
being chased.
Lions, Leopards and
Other Big Cats
Lions and leopards
and other big cats like tigers, are some of the most challenging and dangerous
animals to hunt. Both lions and leopards have exceptional night vision, shrewd
intelligence, fearlessness, speed and agility. A lion can cover 100 yards in 3 to 4 seconds.
Since leopards are
nocturnal hunters (and hunting them with a light is illegal) they are
incredibly challenging to catch in the dark. They are opportunistic hunters,
and make use of all their heightened senses, especially hearing and smell.
They're also known to prey on humans.