WILDLIFE
SOUTH AFRICA |
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| AFRICAN
BUFFALO / CAPE BUFFALO |
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Latin Name: Syncerus caffer Afrikaans:BUFFEL |
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Distribution in South
Africa: |
Buffaloes occur naturally in Kruger National Park and
private reserves on its borders, Addo National Park, Hluhluwe and
Imfolozi KwaZulu-Natal parks. They are also found in various provincial
reserves and also on private game reserves and farms where they were
reintroduced. Buffaloes are carriers of foot and mouth disease and they also suffer from bovine tuberculosis. Therefore they are not allowed beyond certain areas (red line areas) as they might infect other animals, more particularly cattle. All buffaloes that are reintroduced outside of these areas, are bred elsewhere and are so-called disease free buffaloes. |
Habitat: |
Buffaloes prefer open savannah grassland, and areas in the bushveld with abundant long grass. They are often found in reeds, near water. Buffaloes also regularly frequent dense mopanie-veld. |
| Habits: |
Buffaloes need water to cool down and drink. Bulls especially like to lie in water and mud hollows where they roll in the mud and take mud baths to rid themselves of flies, horseflies and ticks. Buffaloes are gregarious and in South Africa (Kruger National Park) herds of up to 500 and more can congregate, consisting of dominant bulls and cows. In other parts of Africa herds of more than a 1000 animals can gather. Bulls are often found alone or form small bachelor herds, consisting of older and younger animals and varying in number from a few animals to about 10 and more. |
Day or night: |
Buffaloes graze mainly by night and early morning and rest up in shade during the heat of the day. They usually drink water during the day. Often at night buffalo herds will also lie down to rest for periods of time. |
Difference between bull and cow: |
Bulls are heavier and larger than cows and also have much heavier horns. The boss (part of the horn closest to the head) of a bull is much thicker broader and thus more prominent compared to a cow and also much wider. |
Mass: |
Male: Bull - 650 to 800 kg. Female: Cow - 550 to 700 kg |
Breeding: |
Mating takes place mainly during late summer and usually single calves are born from early to mid summer. Cows normally give birth every two years. |
| Gestation periosd: |
11 months |
| Lifespan: |
Can live up to 20 years |
| Diet / Food and water: |
Buffaloes are primarily grazers (grass eaters), but will also browse on seed pods especially from acacia trees. They need water daily. |
| Enemies: |
Lion, Leopard, Hyena, African Wild Dog, Crocodile, Humans. |
| Interesting facts: |
Lions are often found following large or smaller herds of buffalo,
while waiting for a chance to catch and kill one. However buffaloes
are not that easy to catch, due to the fact that they will not always
run away, but will group together (often forming a circle around the
young) and try to stand their ground in an effort to defend their
young and each other. Lions are also often injured or killed by buffaloes,
especially by the bulls which can cause a lot of damage with their
horns as well as by stomping on the lions with their hard hooves.
The Buffalo is one of the so called big five animals - a term invented by hunters due to the dangerous and cunning nature of buffaloes. They do not have very good eyesight but their hearing and smell is exceptional. There are many hunting tales that mention wounded buffaloes setting ambushes for hunters that follow them, by circling back on their own tracks, to stand and wait for the hunters that are tracking them. A number of hunters were injured or killed by buffaloes through the years while hunting them. |
References & Sources: |
The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion, Revised by D Skinner & Christian T Chimumba Cambridge University Press 2005 Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa Chris & Tilde Stuart Struik Publishers Third edition 2003 The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa Burger Cillié Briza Publications 2004 Maberly's Mammals of Southern Africa - A popular Field Guide A revision by Richard Goss of Charles Astley Maberly's - The Game Animals of Southern Africa Delta Books (Pty) Ltd 1986 Research: Johan van der Walt Safari Link CC Wildlifesouthafrica.com |