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Physical
Characteristics
The African buffalo consists of the group called The "Big Five",
alongside the elephant, rhino, lion and leopard. A popular trophy
among hunters, these large and often dangerous animals have inspired
awe and stir the imagination of many people. Buffaloes are
unpredictable and have earned a bad reputation from hunters
and other people who come in close contact with them. They can be
dangerous if cornered or wounded. Though they are often thought to
be savage, and have been known to ambush men on slight
provocation, they are often placid if left alone.
In Africa there is only one species of buffalo, however two distinct
subspecies exist: the large savannah buffalo and the much smaller
forest buffalo. The forest subspecies is only found in central and
West Africa.
The Savannah buffaloes are large and heavy and so much resemble the
cow. There is a great variance in their size from one animal to
another, the shapes of their horns and their skin colour. Adults are
usually dot a dark grey or black (or even look red or white if they
have been wallowing in mud of that colour) and the young are often
reddish-brown. The smaller forest buffalo maintains the red colour
even as an adult, although in western Uganda, many savannah buffaloes
are also red or pale orange instead of black. Adults lose hair as
they age.
Both the male and female buffaloes spot heavy and ridged horns that
grow in a downward curve and then up from the head. Their horns are
formidable weapons used in attacking against predators and for
jostling for space within the herd; males use the horns in fights
for dominance.
Natural Habitat
Both the savannah and forest buffaloes live close to water pads.
Generally, buffaloes are found throughout the northern and southern
savannah lands as well as in the lowland rain forest.
Habits and Behaviour
Buffaloes live in herds of a few hundred, but have been known to
congregate in thousands in the Serengeti national park during the
rainy season. The females and their offspring make up the bulk of
the herd. Males may spend much of their time in bachelor groups.
These groups are of two types, those that contain males from 4 to 7
years of age and those that have males 12 years and older. The older
bulls often prefer to be on their own. Males do not reach their full
weight until about age 10. After this, however, their body weight
and condition decline, probably because the teeth become worn.
Buffalos have a strong sense of smell - scent, however their sense
of sight and hearing are both poor. Although they exhibit quietness
most of the time, the animals do communicate. In mating seasons they
grunt and emit hoarse bellows. A calf in danger will bellow
mournfully, bringing herd members running at a gallop to defend it.
Females have their first calves at age 4 or 5. They usually calve
only once every two years. Although young may be born throughout the
year, most births occur in the rainy season when abundant grass
improves the nutritional level for the females when they are
pregnant or nursing. The female and her offspring have an unusually
intense and prolonged relationship. Calves are suckled for as long
as a year and during this time are completely dependent on their
mothers. Female offspring usually stay in the natal herd, but males
leave when they are about 4 years old.
Diet
The African buffalo is mostly nocturnal in feeding. Grass
forms the greatest part of the diet. The night feeding seems to
emanate from the their inability to regulate body temperature during
the hot day temperatures. Food sources play very important role than
predation in regulating buffalo numbers. Without fresh green grass,
buffaloes lose condition faster than other savannah animals.
Predators and Threats
In East Africa, buffaloes frequently
come into conflict with humans especially outside the national parks
. They often break loose from the confines of the park fences and
raid cultivated crops and sometimes spread bovine diseases to
livestock. Although they are still numerous in many parts of East
Africa, in some areas buffaloes have been eliminated or greatly
reduced in number.
Thought You Should Know
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That the African buffalo differs
from the domesticated water buffalo found in other parts of the
world, although they both superficially resemble one another.
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Tat the buffalo is one of the most
abundant of Africa's large herbivores. It depends on water and
does not live in regions with less than 10 inches of rain a
year.
safari animals
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