The African Buffalo is also called the Cape Buffalo. The
Cape Buffalo is not closely related to the slightly larger Asian Water Buffalo
like some people think. They are two distinct animals. The Cape
Buffalo is very powerful. Even African Lions give this buffalo a wide
space to pass. The Cape Buffalo does not have many natural predators.
Man is the largest danger to this wild animal. Once in a while a group
lions will work together to prey on an older or weaker Cape Buffalo. This
wild African Buffalo or Cape Buffalo has not been successfully domesticated.
The Wild Cape Buffalo is considered one of the "Big Five" of Africa. It is
considered to be the second most dangerous wild animal in African, with the
hippopotamus being the most dangerous.
Cape Buffalo are usually found in the open savannah to thickly wooded
country. The Cape Buffalo will wallow when they get the chance.
Other than by humans, buffalo are hunted by lions and
crocodiles, who mostly only attack only old solitary animals and young calves.
Although in the past the population of African buffalo was in the tens of
millions, it now stands at about 900,000; mostly in the savannas of eastern
Africa. Some of the reasons for this decline in numbers are hunting, both for
food and for sport; the conversion of their habitat to farmland and cattle
pasture; droughts; and the introduction of foreign pests and diseases,
especially the cattle disease rinderpest. It is not considered to be in danger
of extinction as long as it remains protected in parks and reserves, although
habitat loss continues (Huffman 2006)(IUCN 2006).
Physical Characteristics:
Male Cape Buffalo have noticeably thick horns.
Male Cape Buffalo are called "Boss."
African or Cape Buffalo bulls mature when they are about eight
years old.
Males are much larger than females.
Adult African buffalo have a sparse covering of short hair,
which tends to thin with age.
They are unpatterned, and color ranges from rich red to black
depending on the subspecies.
Adult savannah buffalo are extremely dark brown or black, with
males typically darker than females.
Forest buffalo are usually red to reddish brown.
The chin and underside are often paler, and the face and legs
may have patches of slightly contrasting color.
The body of this wild buffalo is barrel-shaped and they have a
wide chest.
Their legs are stocky, their head is massive, and their neck
is short and thick.
Their tails are long and have a tuft at the end.
Their heads are large with droopy ears that are fringed with
long hair on the edges.
Cows and Bulls both have horns.
The males' horns are larger than those of the females.
In the wild these wild African buffalo live about 18 year in
the wild.
In captivity these buffalo live an average of 25-25 year.
One captive African Buffalo was recorded to have lived 29.5
years.
The African Buffalo moves about 5 km per hour.
They can run up to 55 km per hour for short distances.
In other words, you cannot out run them on foot.
Location:
They are found in Ethiopia, Somalia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia,
Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.
Cape Buffalo / African Buffalo prefer areas that has easy access
to lots of grass, plenty of water and dense cover to hide in.
Social Structure:
The main herd consists of both sexes made up of all ages.
Sometimes there are separate bachelor herds.
Sometimes these wild buffalo bachelor groups are older males that have
been forced out of the main herd.
The main herds consist of 50 to 500 wild buffalo.
Within these herds are smaller social groups usually made up of several
females and their most recent calves.
The females in the herd seem to have strong bonds to each other as well as
to the calves.
The whole group will quickly respond when a member of the herd sounds a
distress call, especially if that stress call comes from a calf.
Because of this strong and protective bond it is not uncommon for weakened
even blind animals to live long lives within the protection of the herd.
Reproduction:
African Buffalo or Cape Buffalo cows have their first calf
when they are about five years old.
The gestation period for these wild buffaloes is about eleven
and a half months.
African Buffalo or Cape Buffalo breed throughout the year.
Most births tend to be seasonal where rainfall is limited.
Females cycle every 23 days, and are in estrus for 5-6 days.
Gestation is approximately 340 days long or eleven and a half
months.
They usually have a single calf.
Rarely is a pair of twins born.
Cows usually calve only every two years.
African Buffalo calves are born reddish-brown or
blackish-brown in color (forest buffalo calves may be bright red)
Calves usually have a thick covering of hair.
African Buffalo or Cape Buffalo calves weigh about 50-65
kilograms at birth.
African Buffalo or Cape Buffalo cows have very strong maternal
bond with their calves and fiercely defend them.
These wild buffalo calves are weaned when they are about six
months old.
Other Behaviors:
Cape Buffalo / African Buffalo don't mind being out in the
open direct sun for log periods of time.
During the hottest parts of the day wild buffalo herds will
rest and ruminate.
They seem to prefer resting in the open rather than in shade.
In areas with high humanization buffalo will switch from
continuous grazing to night-time foraging.
Frequent mud wallows serve to cool the wild animals.
Wallowing also forms a protective a crust when it dries and
this helps protect them from insect bites.
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