Cape Buffalo

Please click on the blue ball to see animals: 

The Cape buffalo is one of the largest animals on the African plains. Its great herds, sometimes hundreds strong, are highly organized, especially when fending off predators. The Cape buffalo has a fearsome reputation among predators. With its massive build and great, curving horns, the animal puts up a determined fight when attacked. Wounded buffalos have been known to wait in cover, ready to charge their pursuers as they approach.

Habits: The Cape buffalo roams across the grassy plains and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. It stays in areas with good cover and a reliable water source. Herds vary in size from small bands of fewer than 10 animals to huge groups of more than 1,000. The largest herds, composed mainly of females and offspring, are found on the open plains. Conflicts between males may occur during breeding season. These are limited to shows of aggression rather than actual fights, which could easily result in the death of both animals.

The males sociability depends on their age. Three year old males leave their mothers and form small all male groups either within or outside the herd. The females drive away older males from the herd to fend for themselves on the plains. Large herds use social organization. As the Cape buffalo drinks, an oxpecker feeds on the fleas living on its hide. A Cape buffalo keeps cool during the hot African day by wading in mud pools.

Food and Feeding: The Cape buffalo primarily grazes, but it will eat the leaves of bushes. It feeds in the evening and chews the cud at night. It rests in the shade during the heat of the day. In the dry season, the Cape buffalo moves into available forests or wetter valley bottoms. Without a good supply of vegetation, it quickly loses weight. The Cape buffalo needs plenty of water. It makes daily drinking trips in the morning and evening. Old, solitary males spend much of the day wading in cool water.

Defenses: This large, powerful animal has little fear of predators. Hyenas and leopards kill stranded calves. Lions and large crocodiles prey on isolated adults such as elderly males. But the Cape buffalo usually fights back. Single lions often fail to capture them, and buffalos can toss or gore the cats with their horns. In large herds buffalo are almost immune to danger. They may initially run from a predator, but they quickly turn and form a compact group with the adults turned toward the danger. The herd also comes to the aid of animals in distress. The charging buffalo chases away a lion.

Breeding: Peak mating times occur in the rainy seasons when the animals are in the best condition. A female may mate with a succession of males, but she only becomes pregnant by one of her mates. Gestation lasts 11 months, and in a normal year the female gives birth before the rainy season. This ensures that she has plenty of food to produce milk for the quickly growing offspring. The calf reaches sexual maturity in two years and breeds at the age of four.

Key Facts:
Sizes:
Height: 4-6 ft.
Length: 8-11 ft.
Weight: Female 1,000 lb. Male 1,500 lb.

Breeding:
Sexual Maturity: 2 years. Mating does not occur until 4-6 years
Mating Season: Varies from region to region, peaking during the rainy season.
Gestation: 340 days
Weaning: 6 months
No. of Young: 1

Lifestyle:
Habit: Sociable, forming herds of up to 1,000. Also form smaller bachelor herds. Some old males are solitary.
Diet: Grass, foliage
Lifespan: About 16 years

Related Species: The forest buffalo is a subspecies of the Cape buffalo, Syncerus caffer.
Distribution: Africa south of the Sahara. The forest buffalo occurs in the lowland forests of central Africa, while the Cape buffalo lives across savannah regions.
Conservation: Hunting for food and sport have decreased the Cape buffalo’s numbers. It is also killed by farmers who think the animal spreads disease and raid crops.

Features of the Cape Buffalo:
Oxpecker: The Cape buffalo allows the oxpecker to feed off the parasites living on its back.
Male: Stocky and larger than the forest buffalo. Blackish body with heavy horns curving out and then down before curling up to the tip. Large ears partially hidden by horns.
Female and Calf: Largest herds made up of adult females and calves under two years old. Female calves under two years stay close to their mothers while males stay within her vicinity. Three to four year old males congregate together in small groups away from adult males.
Dwarf Forest Buffalo: Light build and smaller than Cape buffalo. Has thick, reddish or bright red hair.

Did You Know:
In spite of its size and bulk, the Cape buffalo can run at speeds of almost 37 miles per hour.
The Cape buffalo has a very thick, protective hide. If alarmed, it will readily escape through dense thorn bushes that would deter most animals.
During a fight between male buffalos, the clash of horns was so violent that one bull was tossed in the air.