To signal to the herd to change direction, leaders emit "gritty", "creaking gate" sounds. Its shoulder height can range from 1.0 to 1.7 m (3.3 to 5.6 ft) and its head-and-body length can range from 1.7 to 3.4 m (5.6 to 11.2 ft). [3] Compared with other large bovids, it has a long but stocky body (the body length can exceed the wild water buffalo, which is heavier and taller) and short but thickset legs, resulting in a relatively short standing height. Forest-type buffalo horns are smaller than those of the savanna-type buffaloes from Southern and East Africa, usually measuring less than 40 centimetres (16 in), and are almost never fused. » The African Buffalo – Powerful Beast. Cows first calve at five years of age, after a gestation period of 11.5 months. A bull approaches another, lowing, with his horns down, and waits for the other bull to do the same thing. However, several incidents have been reported in which lone adult male lions have successfully brought down adult buffaloes. African buffaloes are notable for their apparent altruism. The color is red, with darker patches on the head and shoulders, and in the ears, forming a brush. South African Tourist Attractions – From Art Galleries and Museums to Game Reserves and Beaches. The African buffalo is a very robust species. Reaching a height at its shoulders of 1.5meters, the buffalo weighs on average a hefty 750kg's. They sit in the direction they think they should move. Horns of African buffalo are shaped like question marks. Solitary animals are easy target of lions, which are their natural enemies. In addition it takes in the De Hoop Marine Protected Area which includes 5 km of sea and is amongst Africa's largest protected marine sanctuaries. African buffalos live in large herds that sometimes include thousand animals. The basic herds are surrounded by subherds of subordinate males, high-ranking males and females, and old or invalid animals. Adult bulls spar in play, dominance interactions, or actual fights. South Africa Wildlife – See the Big Five. [3][18][19] The cheetah, leopard, and spotted hyena are normally a threat only to newborn calves, though very large clans of spotted hyenas have been recorded killing cows (mainly pregnant ones) and, on very rare occasions, full-grown bulls. [16] When threatened by predators, they make drawn-out "waaaa" calls. The larger bulls are targeted for their trophy value, although in some areas, buffaloes are still hunted for meat. As with many diseases, these problems remain dormant within a population as long as the health of the animals is good. The horns form fully when the animal reaches the age of 5 or 6 years old, but the bosses do not become "hard" until it reaches the age of 8 to 9 years old. The front hooves of the buffalo are wider than the rear, which is associated with the need to support the weight of the front part of the body, which is heavier and more powerful than the back. [4] In comparison, forest-type buffaloes, at 250 to 450 kg (600 to 1,000 lb), are only half that size. These diseases do, however, restrict the legal movements of the animals and fencing infected areas from unaffected areas is enforced. All rights reserved. [citation needed] African buffaloes are sometimes reported to kill more The statuesque bovine buffalo has an imposing presence which demands a level of respect. [20][21][22], The African buffalo is susceptible to many diseases, including bovine tuberculosis, corridor disease, and foot and mouth disease. African buffalo has large head, broad chest and strong legs. Nevertheless, the yearling follows its mother for another year or so. Buffaloes do not stay on trampled or depleted areas for long. They will "preventively" kill cubs of lions that are known attackers of the herd. They vary greatly not only in size but in the shapes of their horns and their coloring. [16][24] This is difficult, as cows are quite evasive and attract many males to the scene. It feed mainly on the grass. All Rights Reserved. Most well-known are Lindsay Hunt's efforts to source uninfected animals from the Kruger National Park in South Africa. The core of the herds is made up of related females, and their offspring, in an almost linear dominance hierarchy. Other than humans, African buffaloes have few predators and are capable of defending themselves against (and killing) lions. There is only one species of buffalo in Africa, but four distinct subspecies exist: forest buffalo, West African savanna buffalo, Central African buffalo, and southern savanna buffalo. [26] Some older bulls cease to rejoin the herd, as they can no longer compete with the younger, more aggressive males. Please help us out and disable your ad-blocker. The beautiful landscapes of the Zulu Kingdom are an inspiration to a number of artists. A buffalo herd responds to the distress call of a captured member and tries to rescue it. Cape buffalo, (Syncerus caffer caffer), the largest and most formidable of Africa’s wild bovids (family Bovidae) and a familiar sight to visitors of African parks and reserves. They are preyed Both sexes have horns, those of the bulls are characterised by a heavy boss and upward curved horns. Exceptionally large, old male Nile crocodiles may become semi-habitual predators of buffaloes. Males leave their mothers when they are two years old and join the bachelor groups. ... the height at the withers is less than 120 cm and average weight is about 270 kg (600 lb), or about the size of a zebra, and two to three times lighter in mass than the nominate subspecies. When feeding, the buffalo makes use of its tongue and wide incisor row to eat grass more quickly than most other African herbivores. African buffalo is well known for its exceptional memory. [17] Lions do kill and eat buffaloes regularly, and in some regions, the buffaloes are the lions' primary prey. Calves of both types have red coats. African buffalo has large head, broad chest and strong legs. African buffalo is sensitive to habitat loss, hunt and diseases (induced by rinderpest virus), but it is not endangered. Size - see table above. When faced with predators, animals of the herd form a circle around the young, old or weak animals, exposing their large and sharp horns toward the predators. [2] Syncerus caffer caffer, the Cape buffalo, is the typical subspecies, and the largest one, found in Southern and East Africa. agressive behavior makes it a suitable member of Africa’s big 5. No part of this site shall be reproduced, copied, or otherwise distributed without the express, written consent of SouthAfrica.com. [5] Its head is carried low; its top is located below the backline. Buffaloes are herbivores and voracious feeders. By the time a cow is in full estrus, only the most dominant bull in the herd/subherd is there.[16]. Average lifespan of the African buffalo in the wild is 20 years. will often graze together although its not uncommon to find smaller groups during the The female buffalo's horns are slightly more 'dainty' but nevertheless just as dangerous. A few hundred buffalo c. mathewsi. African buffalo is large animal that can reach 6.8 to 11 feet in length, 3.2 to 5.6 feet in height and weight between 660 and 1900 pounds. Located in the Overberg, just 3 hours drive from Cape Town, De Hoop Nature Reserve encompasses 34,000 hectares. Treves, A., & Naughton-Treves, L. (1999). c. brachycerosS. The Durban Art Gallery is KwaZulu Natal’s regional ... De Hoop Nature Reserve in the Western Cape is a well-known marine protected area boasting some of the greatest whale-watching opportunities. Buffaloes engage in mobbing behavior when fighting off predators. Its said that the most dangerous buffalo is a wounded one. In one videotaped instance, known as the Battle at Kruger, a calf survived an attack by both lions and a crocodile after intervention of the herd. Found in Asian countries. [32], In the past, numbers of African buffaloes suffered their most severe collapse during the great rinderpest epidemic of the 1890s, which, coupled with pleuro-pneumonia, caused mortalities as high as 95% among livestock and wild ungulates.[33]. S. c. nanus (the forest buffalo) is the smallest subspecies, common in forest areas of Central and West Africa, while S. c. brachyceros is in West Africa and S. c. aequinoctialis is in the savannas of East Africa. Males have a linear dominance hierarchy based on age and size. Calves may also spar in play, but adult females rarely spar at all. African buffalo is large animal that can reach 6.8 to 11 feet in length, 3.2 to 5.6 feet in height and weight between 660 and 1900 pounds. We are using cookies to make the website better. As a member of the big five game, the Cape buffalo is a sought-after trophy in hunting. Dunham, K. M., Ghiurghi, A., Cumbi, R., & Urbano, F. (2010). SouthAfrica.com. In large bulls, the distance between the ends of the horns can reach upwards of one metre (the record being 64.5 inches 164 cm). Animals are well informed about the best feeding areas and sources of water. It typically takes quite a few lions to bring down a single adult buffalo, and the entire pride usually joins in the hunt. And April with a name similar to the distress call of a higher pitch when distress... Evasive and attract many males to the herd and form bachelor groups on the.! 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