Collective nouns for wildlife
Africa does not disappoint when it comes to collective nouns. The Big Five all have their own unique names, and what better place to start? Buffalo are called a ‘herd’, a ‘gang’, or, best of all, an ‘obstinacy’. Elephants are also called a ‘herd’ (as are many other herbivores), in addition to which they are also known as a ‘memory’.
Lions in a group are called a ‘pride’, which describes these majestic animals very well indeed, while leopards in a group (which is quite rare to see by the way) are called a ‘leap’. This leaves us with rhinos, which are some of Africa’s most vulnerable wild animals and often the target, sadly, of illegal wildlife poachers. They are also beautiful and spectacular to see in person; so large and so different from any other African wildlife species. Not surprisingly, therefore, they have their own special collective noun: a ‘crash’, which is perfectly evocative of these lumbering, powerful giants thundering through the bush.
Crocodiles are another of our favourites – they’re known collectively as a ‘bask’ or a ‘float’. Then we have zebras with another perfectly descriptive collective noun – a ‘dazzle’. Hyenas have two collective nouns. They are normally called a ‘clan’ but the alternative term, a ‘cackle’ perfectly captures the sound and spirit of these animals. A group of aardvarks (another extraordinarily rare sighting – seeing just one of these is special enough) is called an ‘armoury’, while a group of hippopotami basking in the sun are called a ‘bloat’! Wild dogs are known as a ‘pack’, and baboons are called a ‘troop’. Possibly the best collective noun of all though must be for the wildebeest – collectively known as an ‘improbability’.
