Impossible five
The Impossible five are South Africa's most elusive animals. The group includes the Cape mountain leopard, the aardvark, the pangolin, the white lion, and the riverine rabbit. They are almost impossible to track in the wild, and spotting one in the wild is considered a major accomplishment.
The Cape mountain leopard is the apex predator of the fynbos region. It is much smaller than the average African leopard. The IUCN Red List considers it almost threatened.
The aardvark is found in southern and eastern Africa. It is nocturnal and eats ants and termites.
The pangolin is an animal whose body is covered in hard scales. It lives in eastern and southern regions of Africa. The animal is nocturnal and eats ants and termites.
The white lion is not a subspecies of lion. Its white fur derives from a genetic mutation. It is very scarce in nature, but more common in captivity, where it is bred selectively. Note that white lions are not albino, because the pigment of their eyes and pigment is the same color as usual.
The riverine rabbit has white rings around its eyes and a dark brown to black line running from the corner of its mouth to the base of its ears. They are native to a very small area of the Karoo. According to the IUCN Red List, the species is threatened. In fact, it is the most endangered mammal in South Africa.
The Cape mountain leopard is the apex predator of the fynbos region. It is much smaller than the average African leopard. The IUCN Red List considers it almost threatened.
The aardvark is found in southern and eastern Africa. It is nocturnal and eats ants and termites.
The pangolin is an animal whose body is covered in hard scales. It lives in eastern and southern regions of Africa. The animal is nocturnal and eats ants and termites.
The white lion is not a subspecies of lion. Its white fur derives from a genetic mutation. It is very scarce in nature, but more common in captivity, where it is bred selectively. Note that white lions are not albino, because the pigment of their eyes and pigment is the same color as usual.
The riverine rabbit has white rings around its eyes and a dark brown to black line running from the corner of its mouth to the base of its ears. They are native to a very small area of the Karoo. According to the IUCN Red List, the species is threatened. In fact, it is the most endangered mammal in South Africa.
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