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February 15, 2006

African Field Notes: Cape Buffalo

Both male and female buffaloes have heavy, ridged horns. The horns are formidable weapons against predators and for jostling for space within the herd; males also use the horns in fights for dominance.

Sight and hearing are both rather poor, but scent is well developed in buffaloes. Although quiet for the most part, the animals do communicate, for example, a calf in danger will bellow, bringing herd members running at a gallop to defend it. Cape buffalo live in herds averaging 350 members, but sometimes the "bachelor" bulls will form small groups of their own.

Cape buffalo are unpredictable and can be dangerous if cornered or wounded.If attacked, the adults in the herd form a circle around the young and face outward. By lowering their heads and presenting a solid barrier of sharp horns, it is difficult for predators to seize a calf or weaker animal. Thus predators don’t usually attack herds; more likely older solitary animals.

Bovine tuberculosis is decimating the wild cattle of Africa.

Latin Name: Syncerus caffer
A Group Is Called: An Obstinacy (More At: Critter Collectives)

Check out our Safari South Africa podcast - an audio program and a video that features this animal!

Also on Perlgurl.Org:
Interspecies Surrogacy - From Feral Children to Tigers Suckled By Dogs
Where Will The Buffalo Roam?

Posted by sorsha at February 15, 2006 9:36 PM