Main image above: South African flag. Photo: Engin Akyurt, Pexels
Different countries all have national animals and plants associated with them. If you think of China’s national animal, you will probably guess the panda bear, or the wallaby for Australia, and the bald eagle as a symbol for America. Just as these countries have national symbols, South Africa also has national animals and plants.
I read an article late last year stating that only 3% of South Africans can name all five South African national animal and plant symbols. This is a concerning statistic, as national symbols play a crucial role in shaping a shared national identity and pride. I learned it in primary school and have never forgotten it.
The study surveyed 382 urban dwellers across three provinces and found that nearly half (48%) could not correctly name even one of the national symbols. The most widely recognised were the national animal and flower, likely due to their association with national sports teams. However, only 8% and 6% of respondents knew the other symbols like the national fish and tree respectively.
This prompted me to dig out and finish this blog post I started writing who knows when. You guessed it, I have plenty of unfinished and unpublished posts. Do you know South Africa’s national bird, fish, flower, animal and tree? How many of them can you name? Let us know in the comments how you fared.
South African National Bird
The national bird of South Africa is the blue crane (Grus paradisea), also known as the Stanley crane or the paradise crane. This stately bird with its distinctive blue-grey plumage and elegant, dancing displays, has been a cherished part of the nation’s avian heritage. The blue crane is the tallest crane species on the African continent and can reach a height of up to 1.2m.
The blue crane’s global listing is Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Red Data Book of Birds, which focuses on its local listing, lists it as Near Threatened. In the 1970s and 1980s, poisoning events hit blue crane numbers hard. While poisoning incidents still occur, it is not as frequent. Today, collisions with power lines are a major threat. In addition, illegal trade threatens the popilation today. Farming infrastructure, like fencing, bailing twine and water troughs (chicks often drown) also pose challenges. As grassland specialists, their habitat is under threat.
Blue cranes are almost native to South Africa, but there is a small population in northern Namibia and western Swaziland. This makes them the most range-restricted crane species in the world. More than half the Blue crane population lives in the Overberg in the Western Cape.
Known for its graceful movement and haunting, bugling calls, this bird has long held a place in the culture and mythology of various indigenous communities in South Africa. Some confuse them with grey and black-headed herons, but there are distinct features that set our majestic national bird apart. The biggest difference is the blue crane’s elongated tertial feathers, cascading down in a sweeping, almost floor-grazing display. In contrast, the grey herons lack these dramatic plumes. The blue crane’s head and bill shape also differ noticeably from the herons. In flight, the blue crane’s outstretched neck further distinguishes it from the more compact silhouette of the grey herons.
South Africa’s national fish
South Africa’s national fish, the robust and deep-bodied galjoen (Dichistius capensis) holds a revered place in the country’s natural heritage. This striking species, with its grey-to-black colouration and distinctive vertical bars, is endemic to the region stretching from southern Angola to Durban. It is more abundant in waters cooler than 21ºC.
The galjoen thrives in broken surf zones and kelp beds, where it feeds primarily on molluscs, like brown mussels, on submerged rocks. They reach maturity at around five years and measure around 31-34cm. the galjoen spawns from September to February, with equal sex ratios and females generally larger than males. About 90% of galjoen are residents and don’t migrate.
The galjoen population has undergone a catastrophic decline, estimated to be less than 20% of its original population. As recent as the 1980s, galjoen were the most common shore-caught fish in the Cape, making up to 80% of the catch of some angling clubs in a given year. The South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) List, an initiative that helps make sustainable seafood choices that drive positive change, lists it as a red choice. The system lists fish as green, orange and red, with red being a no-go, orange as caution and green as perfect to eat. Regulatory efforts include a daily bag limit of two fish per person, and a minimum size limit of 35cm.
The Two Oceans Aquarium published an article about why the galjoen is the national fish. You can read it here.
South African national flower
As one of the five official national symbols of South Africa, the king protea (Protea cynaroides) stands tall as the country’s iconic national flower. This magnificent, cone-shaped bloom is a visually striking representation of South Africa’s natural heritage with the national cricket team named after it. This flower’s unique appearance has made the king protea a beloved subject in South African art, literature, and design.
Native to the fynbos biome of the Western and Eastern Cape regions, the king protea is the largest member of the diverse protea family. Its flowers can reach over 30cm in diameter and the plant can grow up to 2m high.
The king protea grows in nutrient-poor soils. This means the limited resources in the soil gets depleted by the plants over time, leaving them without nutrients. This is where the fire comes into play. Natural fires occur in the fynbos biome, a crucial step to the survival of the king protea and other fynbos species. Periodic fires replenish the soil with essential nutrients. Protea cynaroides can survive the fires. Its thick underground stem, known as a lignotuber, contains many dormant buds; these will produce new growth after the fire, according to PlantzAfrica.
The national animal
The springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) is South Africa’s national animal. Did you look at that scientific name and wondered about the second part? Marsupialis comes from the Latin word marsupium meaning pouch. A guide once explained to me that springboks once had a unique anatomical feature – a small skin fold or flap at the base of its tail that was once thought to be a pouch, even though it does not function as a true marsupial pouch today.
Springboks occur in the more arid and semi-arid regions of southern Africa where they are adapted to thrive in the harsh, sun-baked environments that characterise much of the country. With its nimble, muscular build and impressive leaping ability, the springbok thrive in the vast, open expanses of the Karoo and Kalahari. Though having said that, their numbers are nowhere near what they used to be in the past. In the old days, springbok of the Kalahari Desert and Karoo migrated in large numbers across the countryside, a practice known as trekbokking.
Springbok are primarily browsers feeding on shrubs and young succulents, so they can live without water for extended periods.
South African national tree
South Africa’s national tree is the real yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius), a species that has stood tall for millions of years. As one of the country’s most ancient and revered trees, it is native to the Afromontane forests found across South Africa, from the Western Cape to Limpopo. The Yellowwood can grow up to 40 meters in height, with a straight, towering trunk and dense, dark green foliage. The wood is highly valued due to its fine grain and rich golden-yellow hue.
Beyond its economic importance, the yellowwood holds cultural and ecological significance. Historically, the Cape Dutch used it to construct furniture and ships. These items fetch high prices today due to its rarity.
South Africa’s national fauna and flora are an important part of the country’s cultural heritage and a symbol of its unique biodiversity. Conservation efforts are important to protect these national symbols and other endangered species in the country, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the beauty of South Africa’s natural resources.
How did you fare with South Africa’s national symbols? Were you part of the 97% of South Africans who did not know all of them? Let us know in the comments.
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