All hail the Big Five

The Leopard, Lion, Rhino, Water Buffalo and Elephant. Went to the Ngorongoro crater on the weekend, a collapsed mountain top that usually has a huge lake that attracts migrating animals from all over east Africa. Now, with the drough, the lake is more like a muddy puddle. There were only a handful of flamingos and usually there are thousands. Commence worrying. When I crossed over from Tanzania to Kenya yesterday, even the cacti had wilted and withered. I can only imagine what the north looks like.





I don't know why hippos aren't included in the big five. They can weigh up to three tonnes, which is much, much more than those scrawny lions or leopards. I have a feeling it has to do with their public relations: people think of them as overgrown pigs. You don't see any Disney movies about them, although I guess they played a small supporting role in Fantasia.




"Mr. and Mrs. Thurmond J. Bewildered-Beest regret to inform you that due to unforeseen circumstances, their son, Billy, will not be attending the annual migration."