Dark Heron in Wetland Reeds at Sunrise

One humungous heron

Ever since their cousin the Bennu heron went extinct, goliath herons stand tall as the largest wading birds in the world—when they're not hunkered down in the morning mists. Necks outstretched, these wetland waders can be up to 5 feet tall, with a wingspan well over 7 feet. Goliaths are native to sub-Saharan Africa, where they share ample wilderness—like the 7,500 protected square miles here at Kruger National Park—with zebras, elephants, rhinos, and other iconic species.