Cape Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
WILD STATUS
Secure
Secure
DISTRIBUTION
Formerly ranged across Eastern and Southern Africa. Now only in the northern and eastern parts of this range.
SIZE
Height: 1.2-1.8 m (4’-6’).
Weight: females 680 kg (1500 lbs), males 907 kg (2000 lbs).
HABITAT
Savannah and grassland near permanent sources of water.
REPRODUCTION
Single calf born after 11 month gestation period.
DIET
Herbivores, ruminants and grazers. Diet consists of tall, coarse grasses, shrubs and lots of water.
Single calf born after 11 month gestation period.
DIET
Herbivores, ruminants and grazers. Diet consists of tall, coarse grasses, shrubs and lots of water.
INTERESTING TIDBITS
- Cape Buffalo is the plains sub-species of African buffalo.
- Both sexes have horns. The adult male has a “BOSS”, a bony shield covering its head between the horns.
- Males, after leaving their mothers, live in bachelor groups with their own dominance hierarchy. Old males past breeding prime also live in groups known as “Daga Boys” in Southern Africa.
- Females live in herds with their calves from the past two years with their own dominance hierarchy also.
- In the rainy season, these groups may join together to make up huge herds of over a thousand animals.
- Cape Buffalo are hunted for their meat, so most live in protected areas.
- Cape Buffalo are extremely powerful and are seen as belligerent. They can run up to almost 60 km. per hour. There are many stories of injured Cape Buffalo attacking their hunters.
- They love to wallow up to their chins in mud.
- The bulls have very impressive horns and have been pursued by trophy hunters since the arrival of white hunters in Africa.
- Competition for food by domestic cattle and goats is challenging all native African grazers. Their main threat today is foreign disease carried by domestic cattle, such as Bovine Tuberculosis.
- Cape Buffalo kill more humans than any other animal, with the possible exception of the hippo.
HABITAT RANGE
ANIMAL FACT SHEET
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