Meet the world’s new Big Five: the wildlife travelers most want to see | News

New research from travel experts Explore shows which wildlife people want to see when they travel
Pandas top the list as the most popular wildlife experience, followed by elephants and kangaroos
Research also shows that Google searches for ‘wildlife holiday’ have increased by 211%
Australia has been crowned the world’s number one wildlife destination

The iconic ‘Big Five’ (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) have defined wildlife travel for decades, with people traveling far and wide to see them in the wild. However, new research from adventure travel experts Explore has revealed a new human-powered Big Five.

Surveying 2,400 people in twelve countries, the research identifies the five wildlife travelers most want to see in their natural habitat – offering an alternative to popular safari experiences.

The world’s new Big Five

Panda (41%)
Elephant (32%)
Kangaroo (32%)
Koala (30%)
Whale (29%)

Pandas top the list, with 41% of travelers hoping to catch a glimpse of them in the wild. With their striking color and behavior, these lovable animals are high on many travelers’ lists. Notably, only one species of the original Big Five, the elephant, comes in second, showing that today’s travelers still want to see one for themselves.

Australia’s iconic animals score highly in the survey. Kangaroos (32%) come in third, followed by Koalas (30%) in fourth, with travelers hoping to spot them as they travel down. Whales round out the top five, with travelers hoping to see them in the open ocean.

Seeing wildlife is a travel motivator for many

Google search data from the past twelve months shows a shift in the importance of seeing wildlife while travelling, with a 211% increase for ‘wildlife holidays’. The research also shows that wildlife is no longer a ‘nice to have’ for travelers, but rather a deciding factor. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents worldwide say wildlife is at least somewhat important when choosing a holiday destination.

South Africans (95%) were most likely to say that wildlife encounters influenced their travel decisions, followed by travelers from Chile (81%) and Italy (79%).

Australia crowned the world’s number one wildlife destination

When asked which country specifically they would travel to for a wildlife experience, respondents said Australia was far above all other countries, with over a third (38%) choosing the country as their top destination. South Africa comes in second with 11%, closely followed by Kenya (9%), Canada (7%) and China (6%).

Luke Judd, travel expert at Explore says:

“Wildlife has always been one of the biggest draws of travel, but what this research shows us is which animals people want to see for themselves. Today’s travelers don’t just dream of the classic safari; they look beyond that, to pandas in bamboo forests, whales treading the open ocean and kangaroos at sunrise.

“The fact that 72% of travelers worldwide now include wildlife in their destination choices tells us that this is not a niche interest, but a defining part of how people want to experience the world. At Explore, we have seen this shift firsthand, which is why we are passionate about connecting travelers to these moments in a way that is responsible, meaningful and truly unforgettable.”

More information about the research can be found online here: https://www.exploreworldwide.com.au/blog/the-worlds-new-big-five-animals