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Art Objects and Replicas of the Giertz Education Center @ Krannert Art Museum

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Ten animals of the safari

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Title	Ten animals of the safari
Description	This set of carved wooden animals was purchased in Kenya. They probably represent the variety of animals that might be seen on a safari in eastern Africa. This group includes "the big five" a term coined by hunters as the five most difficult animals to hunt on foot in Africa. The group includes the lion, elephant, cape buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros. The term is still used in most tourist and wildlife guides that discuss African wildlife safaris. The members of the big five were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved, rather than their size. Beginning from the left side of the illustration, the animals are identified as follows: BACK ROW: 1. Zebra: Timid and restless, zebras invariably bolt from a water hole after drinking. Under attack from predators, males will compromise their own safety as they take a protective rearguard position while the rest of the group flees. The Zebra's habit of keeping close to herds of grazing wildebeest is probably not coincidental: this strategy increases its chances of survival, as most predators prefer eating wildebeest. Zebra are fiercely protective of their young. The stallion and his mares will use bared teeth and flailing hooves to attack and maul threatening lions and hyaenas. 2. Giraffe: Nature's skyscraper, the giraffe is the world's tallest animal. Its carotid artery and jugular vein, running down the long neck from head to heart, are equipped with special valves to keep the blood from alternately flooding and evacuating the brain as the head is raised, or lowered to drink water. The giraffe's defensive weapon against its main enemy, the lion, is a kick that packs a powerful, hoofed punch. Giraffe have an unusual, ungainly gait. At full gallop, they can achieve a speed of 56 km/h. A sleepy giraffe may take a nap standing up, with its head supported in the fork of a tree; lying down with its neck upright. If a whole troop of giraffes are resting, they orientate themselves in different directions so as to be prepared for danger from any direction. 3. Impala: are one of the most beautiful and graceful of the antelopes. Alert and extremely elusive, the impala will let out a quick, high-pitched snort when alarmed, taking off with astonishing leaps over long grass, bushes and small trees. Only males have the lyre-shaped horns. 4. African elephant: Communication among elephants is well-developed due to their being such social animals. Bonds between individuals can be incredibly strong, and their social structure is well-organized. Elephants are very vocal creatures: they rumble, squeak, trumpet, gurgle and chirp, as well as communicating with body language, such as by shaking the head, spreading the ears, raising the trunk etc. Elephants have an acute sense of smell, and communicate also by smell and touch. Elephants often raise the trunk in order to test the air. A supply of fresh water is an essential habitat requirement for elephants, as they require vast amounts of water. Adequate shade is also important. MIDDLE ROW: 5. Male Lion: Lions are the top predator in any African ecosystem in which they occur, and are the largest of the African carnivores. With their characteristic manes, they are unmistakable. Lions adapt well to their particular circumstances. They select their prey from the spectrum of available animals, but, given a choice, they exhibit a preference for large ungulates. Studies have shown that the weight range of prey is between 20 to 800 kg in mass. On the upper end of the scale are giraffe and cape buffalo while the lower end includes gazelle and warthog. 6. Warthog: Warthogs, with their conspicuous facial "warts" and large tusks, are an integral and interesting part of African wildlife. Despite their strange appearance, comical trot and shortsighted and nervous disposition, they are known for their courage and fighting spirit, and have often put wild dogs, cheetahs and even leopards to flight. 7. Cape buffalo: Buffalo live in large herds, which can number thousands. One of the most impressive and frightening sights of Africa is the mighty stampede of a herd of buffalo thundering across the savanna plains. Owing to its unpredictable nature, which makes it highly dangerous to humans, the cape buffalo has not been domesticated. Wounded buffalo have been known to ambush or pursue game hunters. The cape buffalo is not closely related to the Asian water buffalo. 8. Black rhinoceros: In the wild, adult rhinoceroses have few natural predators other than humans. Rhinos are killed by humans for their horns, which are bought and sold on the black market, and used by some cultures for ornamental or medicinal purposes.. The horns are made of the same protein that makes up hair and fingernails. African rhinos have two horns, while the Indian species have a single horn. Although rhinos are of large size and have a reputation of being tough, they are actually very easily poached. Because it visits water holes daily, the rhinoceros is easily killed while taking a drink. African rhinos lack teeth at the front of their mouths, relying instead on their powerful premolar and molar teeth to grind up plant food. The African black rhino is much smaller than the white rhino, and has long pointed lips for eating foliage, while the white rhinos have broad flat lips for grazing. FRONT ROW: 9. Leopard - Although smaller than a lion, the sleuth-like leopard is often more feared. It is fiercer, braver and very intelligent: a perfectly streamlined killing machine with exceptional hearing, good eyesight and sensitive, extra-long whiskers which help it avoid obstacles in the dark. The leopard is also a remarkable athlete, capable not only of swimming across rivers, but also of leaping onto rocks up to 3 m high, carrying prey as heavy as itself, as well as hoisting heavy carcasses into the branches of trees. Leopards can climb even smooth barked trees with ease, and move with confidence among swaying branches. 10. Hippopotamus: The hippopotamus is the second largest mammal on earth. Their specific gravity allows them to sink and walk or run along the bottom of a river. They are widely considered to be one of the most dangerous large animals in Africa. Zulu warriors preferred to be "as brave as a hippopotamus" since hippos are considered to be even braver than lions. Hippos are by nature very aggressive animals, especially when young calves are present. They commonly attack humans, whether in boats or on land, with no apparent provocation. All but one of these animals, the rhinoceros, are included on a website about safaris: www.wildlifesafari.info, the source of most of this information.
Subject	Wood sculpture--Kenya.; Animals--Africa, Eastern.; Game and game-birds--Africa.
Date	[2010]