False msafi ri 109 WHY STOP AT ‘ BIG’? OR INDEED AT ‘ FIVE’? AFRICA IS PACKED WITH WONDERFUL WILDLIFE. ARE YOU READY TO GO IN SEARCH OF THE NOISY NINE OR THE ODDBALL EIGHT? MICHAEL D. KERN/ NATUREPL. COM

False WILDLIFE CHEETAH This whippet- like big cat is the world’s fastest sprinter, reaching speeds of up to 110kph in its pursuit of nippy prey. It can only sustain this for 200– 300m, mind you, for fear of terminally overheating. WHALE SHARK Snorkellers who encounter the world’s largest fi sh cruising the Indian Ocean have nothing to fear: its 1.5m- wide maw is designed solely for engulfi ng plankton. Big individuals may exceed 12m in length and weigh up to 15 tonnes. GIRAFFE The giraffe is ( surprise, surprise!) the world’s tallest animal, with mature bulls reaching 5m or more. It also has the largest heart of any terrestrial mammal, the extra pumping power helping to get the blood to distant extremities. OSTRICH How many world records can one bird handle? The ostrich is the world’s biggest bird ( up to 2.5m tall) and the fastest runner on two legs ( up to 60kph). It also has the largest eyes of any land animal ( up to 5cm across) and lays the world’s largest egg – which, at 1.5kg, makes a decent omelette for 25 people. PEREGRINE FALCON This rare cliff-nesting raptor has been timed at faster fl ying speeds than any other living creature. During its aerial stoop on prey ( when it folds its wings and plummets downwards on an unsuspecting pigeon or water bird), it can exceed 180kph. 110 msafi ri As Africa’s athletes go for gold in the Beijing games, the continent’s animals can also claim a world record or two. THE OLYMPIC TONY HEALD/ NATUREPL. COMJOHN WATERS/ NATUREPL. COM