Quick stats of the African Buffalo

• Diet: - Herbivore
• Height: - 1.5m
• Weight: - Male - 735 kg
• Weight: - Female - 630 kg
• Lifespan - 22 years

Description

Buffalo demand respect and are given a wide berth by most animals. They look deceptively calm but must never be underestimated. They are widespread throughout Africa.

Herds usually number around 100 head and some exceptionally large herds can have numbers exceeding 600 buffalo.

Solitary males can be found wandering not too far from a river or waterhole. It is among these that dangerous irate and vengeful buffalo occur. Especially if wounded in a mating fight, such injured single males readily charge any animal which disturbs them or rouses their suspicion.

Buffalo graze on the coarser tufts of grass. Both males and females have massive curved horns, which serve as formidable weapons. The horns of males tend to be heavier and also wider.

Calving occurs during the dry months. A single calf is born after a gestation period of around 11 months.

Other Names for the African Buffalo

• Buffel

Distribution

Distribution map of the African Buffalo

Taxonomy of the African Buffalo

• Order - Artiodactyla
• Family - Bovidae
• Sub Family - Bovinae
• Genus - Syncerus
• Species - Syncerus caffer